CHARLESTON, S.C.-- The 71st ranked Furman Paladin tennis team rebounded after dropping the doubles point to defeat Chattanooga 4-1 on Saturday morning at The Citadel's Earle Tennis Center. The win advances Furman (15-12, 10-0 SoCon) to the Southern Conference Championship for a rematch against arch rival East Tennessee State.

Chattanooga grabbed the momentum at the start of the match by winning two of three doubles matches to earn the doubles point. Kyle True and John Hangstefer defeated Furman's Allen Simmons and Chris Henderson at No. 3, 8-5. Fabian Bechara and James Dickerson then beat Andrew Rogers and Peter Netzler at the No. 2 spot 9-7 to clinch the match's opening point.

Furman's John Chesworth and James Cameron were the lone Paladin doubles victors on the day as they defeated Jason Ontog and Tim Kutschera at No. 1, 8-4.

Down 1-0, Furman rallied when Cameron, Henderson, Patrick Fillnow, and Ryan McCarthy earned straight-set singles triumphs to seal the Paladin victory. Cameron defeated Hangstefer at No. 2 singles, 6-3, 6-3, while Henderson overpowered Thomas Knizat at No. 3, 6-2, 6-4. Fillnow earned a 6-2, 6-0 win against Alex Mabred at the No. 5 position, and McCarthy beat Kutschera 6-4, 6-2 at No. 6.

Furman and East Tennessee State will face off on Sunday at 10:30 a.m. for the Southern Conference Championship. This will be the second consecutive year the two teams have met for the title. The Paladins and Bucs have battled once already in 2002, with Furman taking the match, 7-0.

No. 71 Furman 4, Chattanooga 1
April 20, 2002
Singles Results
1. No. 50 John Chesworth (Furman) vs. Jason Ontog (UTC), Furman led 6-4, 6-6
2. James Cameron (Furman) def. John Hangstefer (UTC), 6-3, 6-3
3. Chris Henderson (Furman) def. Thomas Knizat (UTC), 6-2, 6-4
4. Patrick Gaughan (Furman) vs. Fabian Bechara (UTC), Furman led 6-2, 3-1
5. Patrick Fillnow (Furman) def. Alex Mabred (UTC), 6-2, 6-0
6. Ryan McCarthy (Furman) def. Tim Kutschera (UTC), 6-4, 6-2
Doubles Results
1. No. 40 Cameron/Chesworth (Furman) def. Ontog/Kutschera (UTC), 8-4
2. Bechara/James Dickerson (UTC) def. Andrew Rogers/Peter Netzler (Furman), 9-7
3. Hangstefer/Kyle True (UTC) def. Henderson/Allen Simmons (Furman), 8-5