April 22, 2001

FURMAN MEN'S TENNIS CLAIMS SOUTHERN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP; SCARPA WINS 700TH

CHARLESTON, S.C.- The Furman men's tennis team (19-9, 9-1 Southern Conference) avenged its 5-2 regular season loss to the East Tennessee Bucs today with a 4-1 victory in the Southern Conference championship held at the Donald C. Bunch Courts at The Citadel’s Earle Tennis Center. With the win, Furman head coach Paul Scarpa earned his 700th career triumph, becoming only the fourth coach ever to reach the milestone.

Furman opened the match by winning two straight doubles matches and the doubles point. Charlie Lloyd and Chris Henderson were 8-4 victors at No. 3, while freshmen Andrew Rogers and Patrick Fillnow won their match at No. 2, 8-4.

The Paladins widened the gap to 3-0 as James Cameron and Eric Ward won their singles matches in straight sets. Cameron, an all-conference selection and the tournament's Most Outstanding Player, beat ETSU's Marcos Pavlovich at No. 2, 6-1, 6-2, while Ward, the Southern Conference Freshman of the Year, defeated Francisco Diaz at No. 6, 6-0, 6-4.

After Furman's Lee Nickell dropped his match at No. 1 to Gustavo Gomez, 6-2, 6-1, Paladin John Chesworth finished off the Bucs with a 6-3, 6-4 victory against Juan Yannuzzi at No. 3.

“Our kids played very well today,” said Scarpa. “It’s been exciting to see the maturation of our players this year, especially with bringing three freshmen into the lineup.”

The win gives Furman an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. This will be Furman's first trip to the NCAA's as a team during Scarpa's tenure as head coach.

With the Lady Paladins' 4-2 victory over College of Charleston in the women's final earlier today, Furman won both the men and women's tournament titles for the fourth time in school history. In addition to this season, the feat was accomplished in 1987, 1991, and 1993.

Furman 4, ETSU 1
April 22, 2001
Singles Results
1. Gustavo Gomez (ETSU) def. Lee Nickell (Furman) 6-2, 6-1
2. James Cameron (Furman) def. Marcos Pavlovich (ETSU) 6-1, 6-2
3. John Chesworth (Furman) def. Juan Yannuzzi (ETSU) 6-3, 6-4
4. Patrick Gaughan (Furman) vs. Pablo Sahagun (ETSU) DNF
5. Chris Henderson (Furman) vs. Roberto Fernandez (ETSU) DNF
6. Eric Ward (Furman) def. Francisco Diaz (ETSU) 6-0, 6-4
Doubles Results
1. Cameron-Chesworth (Furman) vs. Gomez-Fernandez (ETSU) DNF
2. Andrew Rogers-Patrick Fillnow (Furman) def. Pavlovich-Yannuzzi (ETSU) 8-5
3. Henderson-Charlie Lloyd (Furman) def. Sahagun-Diaz (ETSU) 8-4