2000 Furman Lady Paladins

Expectations are high as the Furman women's tennis team begins its 2000 season.

Head coach Debbie Southern and the Lady Paladins have reason to be optimistic. After claiming the Southern Conference tournament title each of the past two seasons, Furman returns a multitude of talent and experience in their effort to three-peat. The 2000 version of the Lady Paladins feature the 1998 and 1999 conference freshman-of-the-year, the 1998 and 1999 conference tournament MVP, and the 1999 conference player-of-the-year. That list doesn't even include last seasonšs most successful player, Gene Holman who posted a 19-7 overall record.

Last season, the Lady Paladins became the first Southern Conference team to participate in the NCAA Tournament. Though they lost 5-1 to USC, Furman believes the experience will help this season.

"I think getting to the NCAA Tournament last season will give this team confidence," said Southern. "We aim to get back to that point again, but this team has a goal to win a round once we get there."

Another goal of this team is to achieve a strong national ranking. Furman's challenging non-conference schedule should help that effort as well as prepare the team for tournament play. Along with traditional regional opponents Georgia Tech, South Carolina, N.C. State, and Clemson, Furman will venture into uncharted waters as they travel to Madison, Wisc., to face Wisconsin, Illinois State, and Ball State and to Boise, Idaho, to face New Mexico, Utah State, and Boise State.

While the non-conference schedule will be important, Furman will likely have to win the Southern Conference for a third straight time to get back to the NCAAšs.

"It will be hard to three-peat at the conference tournament," said Southern. "Everyone in the league will be gunning for us since wešve won it the last two years."

College of Charleston, last year's tournament runner-up, and UNC Greensboro, last season's co-regular season champion appear to pose the strongest threats to Furman's three-peat effort.

Once again, Furman will be slim in numbers, though not slim in talent. With only seven players on the roster, every team member will be relied on heavily while staying healthy will be vital.

The lone senior on the roster is Jarrell Starnes. Starnes, from Charlotte, N.C., has been a steady performer for three seasons. After playing near the top of the lineup her first two seasons, Starnes had a banner year last season at No. 5 singles. She played No. 4 at the conference tournament and earned tournament MVP honors for three impressive straight set singles wins. Starnes should play either No. 4 or No. 5 singles again this season.

Meredith Moore is on pace to be one of the most successful singles players in Furman's history. Moore, a junior from Lewisville, N.C., tallied a 15-5 record at No. 1 singles as a freshman and an 18-8 record primarily at No. 2 singles last season. She will play in the top half of the singles lineup again this season. A very impressive 7-5, 6-1 victory over South Carolina's Celine Regnier in the NCAA Tournament should give Moore added confidence entering this season.

Megan Dunigan had one of the most successful freshman campaigns in Furman athletic history last season, as she became the first women's tennis player to earn Southern Conference Player-of-the-Year and Freshman-of-the-Year honors in the same season. A sophomore from Oak Ridge, Tenn., Dunigan earned a top 100 national ranking early last season and finished with a 16-10 overall fall record playing in the top singles spot. Dunigan will assume the No. 1 singles position again this season.

Gene Holman has worked hard since the end of last season and is one of the most improved players on the team. That is not good news for SoCon opponents, considering she posted Furman's top singles record last year at 19-7 and went undefeated in league play. Holman, a sophomore from Shelby, N.C. should play in the top half of the singles lineup as she moves to a more aggressive style of play.

The return of Emelie Isaksson will help the Lady Paladin lineup tremendously. The 1998 SoCon Tournament MVP, Isaksson returned to her native Sweden following her freshman season. Isaksson elected to return to Furman after a year's absence from the school and the tennis court. She worked to get back into match shape through the summer and the fall and Southern believes she is back in her MVP form of 1998.

Natalie The, of Lake Worth, Fla., is one of two freshmen on this year's squad. The is an excellent doubles player who understands the game. She will also be counted on to produce in the singles lineup.

Krista Thomson, from Orchard Park, N.Y., does not have as much national junior experience as past freshman starters, but could fill the critical No. 6 singles position for the Lady Paladins.

Coach Southern will have a lot of options in the doubles lineup this season. Starnes and Dunigan were the top tandem a year ago with a 15-7 overall record. Freshmen The and Thomson could both figure in the lineup while Isaksson, who was primarily a singles player as a freshman, has improved her doubles skills.