May 11, 2001
Athens, Ga.-- The top ranked Georgia Bulldogs (23-1) ousted the Furman Paladins (19-10) today in the first round of the NCAA tournament in Athens, Ga., 4-0. The win propels the Bulldogs into a second round matchup against Georgia Tech, while the Southern Conference champion Paladins end the season at 19-10.
Georgia opened the match by sweeping Furman in doubles play. Georgia got out of the gates early as Bo Hodge and Brandon Wagner captured an 8-3 win against Patrick Fillnow and Lee Nickell at the No. 2 doubles spot. Lesley Joseph and Nicolas Boeker posted an 8-5 win at No. 3 to clinch the doubles point and give Georgia a 1-0 lead. The Bulldog pair of Matias Boeker and Travis Parrott held a 7-5 lead when play was suspended.
The Bulldogs continued to roll in singles action, as three straight-set wins gave Georgia the 4-0 win. Chad Carlson, who has not played a match since April 8 at Auburn due to a sore wrist, proved he has not missed a beat as the junior cruised to a 6-0, 6-0 win against Patrick Gaughan at No. 4 singles. Furman's James Cameron was early in the third set of his match against Bo Hodge at No. 2 singles when play was suspended.
"I thought we could have done better than we did in doubles," Furman head coach Paul Scarpa said. "Not taking anything away from Georgia, but I thought we kind of lost it on our serving games. Chad Carlson obviously played a great match. I think our guy played a great match at No. 5 (Chris Henderson), but Travis Parrott is an awfully good player."
The loss ends a successful 2001 campaign for the Paladins. Furman advanced to the NCAA Tournament as a team for the first time in school history and head coach Paul Scarpa became one of only four coaches to reach the 700 win plateau as he won his 700th career match in the Southern Conference Tournament championship against ETSU. The Paladins spent most of the season in the ITA's national ranking as they entered the NCAA Tournament ranked 58th in the country. Furman claimed wins over both North Carolina and North Carolina State this season.
Furman will lose two starters to graduation, as No. 1 singles player Lee Nickell and No. 3 doubles player Charlie Lloyd concluded their collegiate careers today.
Georgia 4, Furman 0
Doubles:
1. (4) M. Boeker/Parrott (UGA) vs. Cameron/Chesworth (Furman) 7-5, susp.
2. Wagner/Hodge (UGA) def. Fillnow/Nickell (Furman) 8-3
3. Joseph/N. Boeker (UGA) def. Henderson/Lloyd (Furman) 8-5
Singles:
1. (5) Matias Boeker (UGA) def. Lee Nickell (Furman) 6-1, 6-4 *
2. (8) Bo Hodge (UGA) vs. James Cameron (Furman) 7-5, 4-2, susp.
3. John Chesworth (Furman) vs. (28) Lesley Joseph (UGA) vs. 6-3,1-6, 1-1, susp.
4. (47) Chad Carlson (UGA) def. Patrick Gaughan (Furman) 6-0, 6-0
5. (50) Travis Parrott (UGA) def. Chris Henderson (Furman) 6-4, 6-4
6. (60) Brandon Wagner (UGA) vs. Eric Ward (Furman) 6-4, 5-1, susp.