April 22, 2001

FURMAN WOMEN'S TENNIS NETS FOURTH STRAIGHT SOUTHERN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP

CHARLESTON, S.C.- The Furman women's tennis team claimed its fourth straight Southern Conference tournament championship with a 4-2 triumph over College of Charleston this afternoon at the Donald C. Bunch Courts at The Citadel's Earle Tennis Center. The win marks the Lady Paladins' Southern Conference record 32nd consecutive league victory.

Furman jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead by taking the doubles point. The all-conference duo of Megan Dunigan and Meredith Moore won their No. 1 doubles match against Charleston's Vinny Seiverling and Liorah Levin, 8-1. Lady Paladins Natalie The and Gene Holman then clinched the point with an 8-1 victory against Marcella Valkenhoff and Emily Scatuorchio at No. 2.

Furman then expanded its lead to 3-0 as Moore and The won their matches in straight sets. Moore was a 6-4, 6-2 victor at No. 2 against Valkenhoff, while The defeated Renata Camargo 6-3, 6-2 at No. 4.

Charleston quickly turned the match around as Scatuorchio beat Furman's Krista Thomson at No. 6 singles, 6-4, 6-4. Cougar Whitney Malina then defeated Lady Paladin Emelie Isaksson at No. 5 singles, 7-5, 6-2.

With the match standing at 3-2 and Dunigan struggling to finish her match at No. 1 singles against Seiverling, Furman's Holman rallied from a one-set deficit to seal the victory for the Lady Paladins as she put away Charleston's Levin at No. 3 singles on her fifth match point opportunity, 4-6, 6-1, 6-1.

“I thought we fought really hard today,” said Furman head coach Debbie Southern. “We knew that Charleston would give us a tough match. We beat a really good team today.” The win gives the Lady Paladins an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.

Following the completion of the match, three-time conference player of the year Dunigan was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player.

Furman 4, College of Charleston 2
April 22, 2001
Singles Results
1. Megan Dunigan (Furman) vs. Vinny Seiverling (COC) DNF
2. Meredith Moore (Furman) def. Marcella Valkenhoff (COC) 6-4, 6-2
3. Gene Holman (Furman) def. Liorah Levin (COC) 4-6, 6-1, 6-1
4. Natalie The (Furman) def. Renata Camargo (COC) 6-3, 6-2
5. Whitney Malina (COC) def. Emelie Isaksson (Furman) 7-5, 6-2
6. Emily Scatuorchio (COC) def. Krista Thomson (Furman) 6-4, 6-4
Doubles Results
1. Dunigan-Moore (Furman) def. Seiverling-Levin (COC) 8-1
2. Holman-The (Furman) def. Valkenhoff-Scatuorchio (COC) 8-1
3. Thomson-Shellie Cochran (Furman) vs. Camargo-Malina (COC) DNF