GREENVILLE, S.C.-- The Furman Lady Paladin tennis team (4-1, 0-0 SoCon) won five of six singles matches on its way to upsetting the Clemson Tigers 5-2 at Mickel Tennis Center on Saturday. The win was the first for Furman against the Tigers since an 8-0 victory in 1993 and moves the Lady Paladins' record against Atlantic Coast Conference opponents to 2-0 in 2002.

"I felt our kids fought so hard from the start," said Furman head coach Debbie Southern. "I'm so proud of our kids. It shows that hard work does pay off."

Clemson (3-3, 0-0 ACC) started the day by taking the opening doubles match when the No. 1 tandem of Alix Lacelarie and Laurence Jayet defeated Furman's Megan Dunigan and Natalie The, 8-4. Furman evened the score when freshmen Mary Kovarik and Caroline Bentley emerged with an 8-4 victory in their No. 2 doubles match against Anna Dolinska and Richele LeSaldo. Clemson then clinched the doubles point when Anna Savitskaya and Milena Stanoycheva edged Furman's Gene Holman and Mary Neill Hagood at the No. 3 spot, 9-8 (3).

Clemson stretched its lead to 2-0 when Savitskaya defeated Furman's Kovarik in No. 2 singles action, 6-2, 6-1.

The Lady Paladins began their comeback when Furman notched two key victories at No. 3 and No. 4 singles, with Furman's Holman holding off Clemson's Jayet at No. 3, 6-2, 5-7, 6-3, and Hagood defeating Clemson's Stanoycheva at No. 4, 6-3, 4-6, 6-2.

Furman then took a 3-2 lead when Dunigan notched a 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 victory at No. 1 singles against Lacelarie.

The Lady Paladins clinched the match when Clemson's Ioana Paun double-faulted at match point to give Furman's Bentley a 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 victory at No. 6 singles.

At No. 5, Furman's The stormed back from a 5-1 deficit in the third set to upend Clemson's Ana Stiglic, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5.

The Lady Paladins will not play again until February 26th when Furman travels to face No. 66 New Mexico in Albuquerque at 5:30 p.m.

Furman 5, Clemson 2
February 16, 2002
Singles Results
1. Megan Dunigan (Furman) def. Alix Lacelarie (Clemson), 6-4, 3-6, 6-2
2. Anna Savitskaya (Clemson) def. Mary Kovarik (Furman), 6-2, 6-1
3. Gene Holman (Furman) def. Laurence Jayet (Clemson), 6-2, 5-7, 6-3
4. Mary Neill Hagood (Furman) def. Milena Stanoycheva (Clemson), 6-3, 4-6, 6-2
5. Natalie The (Furman) def. Ana Stiglic (Clemson), 4-6, 6-3, 7-5
6. Caroline Bentley (Furman) def. Ioana Paun (Clemson), 6-4, 3-6, 6-4
Doubles Results
1. Lacelarie/Jayet (Clemson) def. Dunigan/The (Furman), 8-4
2. Kovarik/Bentley (Furman) def. Anna Dolinska/Richele LeSaldo (Clemson), 8-4
3. Savitskaya/Stanoycheva (Clemson) def. Holman/Hagood (Furman), 9-8 (3)