June 24, 1999

FURMAN WOMEN'S TENNIS WELCOMES BACK 1998 TOURNEY MVP ISAKSSON

GREENVILLE -- Shortly after the Furman women's tennis team clinched the 1999 Southern Conference Tournament Championship on April 18, thus earning the Lady Paladins their first ever NCAA Tournament bid, head coach Debbie Southern had some more good news for her players. Beloved former teammate and 1998 Southern Conference Tournament Most Outstanding Player Emelie Isaksson had decided to return to Furman.

Isaksson, a native of Ulricehamn, Sweden, spent the 1997-98 season as a freshman at Furman. Despite a stellar freshman year, which included a 15-6 overall record and a perfect 7-0 Southern Conference mark, Isaksson decided to return home to her native country following her freshman season. While in Sweden, Isaksson attended the Lund Institute in Lund, Sweden and played for the Lund Tennis Club, a separate entity from the Institute.

"I just missed tennis and the girls here so much," said Isaksson, who is in Greenville as a staff member at Furman men's coach Paul Scarpa's tennis camp. "I guess you could say that I just missed Furman tennis."

While Furman did not miss a beat in Isaksson's absence, advancing to their first-ever NCAA Tournament, the Lady Paladins welcome the familiar addition. Isaksson, a very popular team member will look to find a spot in a lineup that returns its top five singles players, including Southern Conference Player-of-the-Year and Freshman-of-the-Year Megan Dunigan.

"I am thrilled that Emelie decided to return to Furman," said head coach Debbie Southern. "She will only make this team stronger. It will be nice because, unlike with a freshman, we know what she is capable of doing."

"I want to come back and help this team win a third straight Southern Conference Tournament," said Isaksson. "We didn't get to go the NCAA's in 1998, so I am looking forward to playing in that tournament as well. The main reason that I came back is that I just love playing tennis and the people here are awesome."