February 11, 2001

FURMAN WOMEN'S TENNIS EDGED BY MIDDLE TENNESSEE STATE; BLANKS PRESBYTERIAN

GREENVILLE, S.C. ‹ The Furman women's tennis team was defeated by the Middle Tennessee State Lady Raiders 4-3 today at the Mickel Tennis Center on the campus of Furman University. Following the loss, the Lady Paladins bounced back to blank Presbyterian, 7-0.

In the opening match of the day, Furman earned the doubles point behind Megan Dunigan and Meredith Moore's 8-2 victory over Lady Raiders Manon Kruse and Stacy Varnell. Gene Holman and Natalie The also won their match against Inge Weirich and Carien Venter, 8-4.

However, the Lady Paladins were unable to hold on to their lead as Middle Tennessee State took four of six singles matches. Furman's Dunigan lost a tough three set duel at No. 1 singles against Lady Raider Manon Kruse, 6-4, 4-6, 6-2. At No. 2 singles, Furman's Moore beat Weirich 6-2, 6-1. Furman's Holman defeated Tanja Buccheim 6-3, 6-2. The Lady Raiders then earned victories at No. 4, 5, and 6 singles to take the match.

In the second match of the day, Furman had little trouble defeating the Presbyterian Blue Hose, 7-0. Furman's Moore, Dunigan, Emelie Isaksson, and Shellie Cochran all were straight set victors in singles play. Lady Paladin McCall Holman earned a 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 win over Presbyterian's Clayton McGee. Furman's Lauren Welch also won a three set duel against Allison Merritt, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4. The Lady Paladins swept all three doubles matches against the Blue Hose.

Furman will not return to action until February 28 when they face the Arizona Lady Wildcats in Tuscon.

Middle Tennessee State 4, Furman 3
Singles Results
Manon Kruse (MTSU) def. Megan Dunigan (Furman) 6-4, 4-6, 6-2
Meredith Moore (Furman) def. Inge Weirich (MTSU) 6-2, 6-1
Gene Holman (Furman) def. Tanja Buccheim (MTSU) 6-3, 6-2
Michaela Gridling (MTSU) def. Emelie Isaksson (Furman) 6-0, 4-6, 6-4
Carien Venter (MTSU) def. Natalie The (Furman) 6-2, 6-3
Niger Kaur (MTSU) def. Krista Thomson (Furman) 6-2, 7-5
Doubles Results
Dunigan-Moore (Furman) def. Kruse-Stacy Varnell (MTSU) 8-2
Holman-The (Furman) def. Weirich-Venter (MTSU) 8-4
Gridling-Kaur (MTSU) def. Thomson-Shellie Cochran (Furman) 9-7

Furman 7, Presbyterian 0
 Singles Results
Meredith Moore (Furman) def. Rachel Key (PC) 6-1, 6-1
Megan Dunigan (Furman) def. Sunny Armstrong (PC) 6-3, 6-0
Emelie Isaksson (Furman) def. Heather Combs (PC) 6-0, 6-1
Shellie Cochran (Furman) def. Kelly Fitzpatrick (PC) 6-1, 6-1
McCall Holman (Furman) def. Clayton McGee (PC) 3-6, 6-3, 6-3
Lauren Welch (Furman) def. Allison Merritt (PC) 6-4, 3-6, 6-4
Doubles Results
 Gene Holman-Natalie The (Furman) def. Armstrong-McGee (PC) 8-3
Cochran-Krista Thomson (Furman) def. Fitzpatrick-Key (PC) 8-3
M. Holman-Welch (Furman) def. Merritt-Lauren Ingle (PC) 8-2