#64 Furman Captures Regular Season Title With 5-2 Win Over Davidson

April 14, 2006

Davidson, NC - With a 5-2 victory over the host Davidson Wildcats Friday afternoon, the 64th ranked Furman women's tennis team clinched the regular-season Southern Conference title and secured the top seed in next weekend's league tournament. The loss is Davidson's first SoCon defeat this season for a final conference record of 8-1 and overall mark of 16-8. Meanwhile, the Paladins finish the regular season unblemished in the conference at 9-0, toting an overall record of 16-6.

Furman has claimed the SoCon regular-season crown every year since 1999. In last spring's SoCon Tournament, the Wildcats faced rival Furman in the championship finals, which the Paladins won for the second year in a row.

In addition to winning the doubles point, Furman charted singles victories in straight sets on courts two through five. In flight two Marti Morris defeated Michele Fanney 7-5, 6-3 while Lauren Osborne hit her way past Kim Whelan 6-3, 6-2 at No.3. In flight four Shannon Moore ousted Kate Levitt 6-3, 6-3 and in the flight five match Bonnie Baird downed Meredith Skeeters 7-5, 6-0. Davidson picked up victories in flights one and six with Kelsey Linville defeating Furman's Laura Gioia in three sets 0-6, 6-4, 7-5 at No.1 and on the number-six court Wildcat freshman Lora Dushanova shook off a first set loss to down Lauren Tomory 2-6, 6-2, 10-8.

Next on the slate for both teams will be the SoCon Tournament, April 20-23, in Charleston, S.C., featuring Furman as the top seed and Davidson as the two-seed.

Singles

1. Kelsey Linville (DAV) def. Laura Gioia (FU) 0-6, 6-4, 7-5

2. Marti Morris (FU) def. Michele Fanney (DAV) 7-5, 6-3

3. Lauren Osborne (FU) def. Kim Whelan (DAV) 6-3, 6-2

4. Shannon Moore (FU) def. Kate Levitt (DAV) 6-3, 6-3

5. Bonnie Baird (FU) def. Meredith Skeeters (DAV) 7-5, 6-0

6. Lora Dushanova (DAV) def. Lauren Tomory (FU) 2-6, 6-2, 10-8

Doubles

1. Gioia/Morris (FU) def. Linville/Whelan (DAV) 8-3

2. Eckert/Osborne (FU) def. Powel/Fanney (DAV) 8-2

3. Bornt-Davis/Moore (FU) def. Levitt/Dushanova (DAV) 8-7