Back-to-Back SoCon Champs! Furman Defeats Elon to Take Crown

April 26, 2009

Elon, N.C. - The top-seeded Furman men's tennis team defended its Southern Conference Tournament crown, winning its second straight championship with a 4-0 victory over the host Elon Phoenix at the Jimmy Powell Tennis Center on Sunday afternoon. With the victory, No. 72 Furman (22-7) extends its season and earns the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The loss drops No. 67 Elon to 21-6 overall.

Senior Bo Ladyman was honored as the SoCon Tournament MVP after going undefeated during the competition. Ladyman was part of two critical doubles victories and contributed a singles win in the championship match.

Furman sophomore Sawyer Duncan clinched the championship for the Paladins, rebounding from a first-set loss to earn the 1-6, 6-4, 6-2 victory over Elon's Cody Stauffer MacDowell at number six singles. Duncan improved to 25-2 on the season, extending his winning streak to 18 consecutive matches.

The Paladins took the early lead in the match with wins at the top two doubles positions. No. 64 Ladyman and Andy Juc improved to 14-1 on the year with an 8-4 defeat of No. 33 Damon Gooch and Philip Nemec. Juniors Chris Rhyne and Chris Motes locked up the doubles point for Furman with an 8-6 win over Chase Helpingstine and Oscar Podlewski.

Senior Daniel Knause increased the Paladin advantage, defeating Nemec, 7-5, 6-3, at number three singles. After winning the first set 6-1, Ladyman found himself down 4-1 in the second before he battled back for the 6-1, 7-5 victory against Podlewski at number two. With Furman holding a 3-0 lead, Duncan stepped up with a three-set win to seal the Furman victory.

The Paladins' consecutive titles are the team's first back-to-back tournament championships since the 1990 and 1991 seasons. The championship is the 14th in program history and comes after Furman won its ninth SoCon regular-season crown. With the automatic bid, Furman will return to the NCAA Tournament for the second straight season. The 64-team brackets and 16 regional host sites will be announced on Tuesday, April 28 beginning at approximately 4:20 p.m., on ESPNEWS. The NCAA first and second round matches will take place May 8-10 at various sites across the country, with the Final 16 to be held in College Station, Texas May 14-19.

#72 Furman 4, #67 Elon 0
Doubles
1. #64 Andy Juc/Bo Ladyman (FUR) def. #33 Damon Gooch/Philip Nemec (ELON) 8-4
2. Chris Rhyne/Chris Motes (FUR) def. Chase Helpingstine/Oscar Podlewski (ELON) 8-6
3. Andrei Chvetsov/Jordan Walters (FUR) vs. Alberto Rojas/Carlin Murray (ELON) 8-8 unfinished
Order: 1, 2

Singles
1. #106 Andy Juc (FUR) vs. #82 Damon Gooch (ELON) 7-5, 3-2 unfinished
2. Bo Ladyman (FUR) def. Oscar Podlewski (ELON) 6-1, 7-5
3. Daniel Knause (FUR) def. Philip Nemec (ELON) 7-5, 6-3
4. Chris Motes (FUR) vs. Chase Helpingstine (ELON) 4-6, 6-6 unfinished
5. Jordan Walters (FUR) vs. Alberto Rojas (ELON) 4-6, 3-3 unfinished
6. Sawyer Duncan (FUR) def. C. Stauffer MacDowell (ELON) 1-6, 6-4, 6-2
Order: 3, 2, 6