CHARLESTON, S.C.-- The 71st ranked Furman men's tennis team (15-13, 10-0 SoCon) dropped its first league match of the year when East Tennessee State defeated the Paladins 4-2 in a closely contested Southern Conference championship match at The Citadel's Earle Tennis Center on Sunday.

Furman began by taking the doubles point from the Bucs. At No. 1, 40th ranked James Cameron and John Chesworth defeated Marcos Pavlovich and Roberto Fernandez, 8-2, while Allen Simmons and Chris Henderson won their match at No. 3 8-3 against Diego Iglesias and Moises Serrano.

East Tennessee State rebounded when Pavlovich beat Chesworth at No. 1, 6-4, 6-4, but Furman answered with a 6-4, 6-4 Henderson victory at No. 3 against Pablo Sahagun. East Tennessee State then surged ahead when Alejandro Salazar dropped Patrick Fillnow at No. 5, 7-5, 6-3, and Serrano defeated Furman's Ryan McCarthy at the No. 6 position, 6-2, 3-6, 6-1. The Bucs clinched the title when Fernandez held off Cameron at No. 2, 7-6, 6-4.

The win sends East Tennessee State to the NCAA Tournament with the Southern Conference's automatic bid.

East Tennessee State 4, No. 71 Furman 2
April 21, 2002
Singles Results
1. Marcos Pavlovich (ETSU) def. No. 50 John Chesworth (Furman), 6-4, 6-4
2. Roberto Fernandez (ETSU) def. James Cameron (Furman), 7-6, 6-4
3. Chris Henderson (Furman) def. Pablo Sahagun (ETSU), 6-4, 6-4
4. Patrick Gaughan (Furman) led Diego Iglesias (ETSU), 4-6, 6-4, 1-0
5. Alejandro Salazar (ETSU) def. Patrick Fillnow (Furman), 7-5, 6-3
6. Moises Serrano (ETSU) def. Ryan McCarthy (Furman), 6-2, 3-6, 6-1
Doubles Results
1. Cameron/Chesworth (Furman) def. Pavlovich/Fernandez (ETSU), 8-2
2. Andrew Rogers/Peter Netzler (Furman) led Sahagun/Salazar (ETSU), 6-4
3. Henderson/Allen Simmons (Furman) def. Iglesias/Serrano (ETSU), 8-3