October 28, 2001

FURMAN WOMEN'S TENNIS PLAYERS PARTICIPATE IN 2001 SOUTHEAST REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.-- The Furman Lady Paladin women's tennis team had three singles players and two doubles squads qualify for the 2001 Omni Hotels Southeast Regional Championships held this weekend in Winston-Salem, N.C. Furman's Megan Dunigan, Mary Kovarik, and Natalie The participated in the singles tournament, while the doubles tandems of Dunigan-The and Kovarik-Mary Neill Hagood competed in the doubles draw.

Dunigan won her first round singles match against UNC Wilmington's Mandy Bullard 6-0, 6-4, but was then defeated by Tennessee's Majen Immink, 7-6(4), 6-4.

Kovarik also won her first round match, beating UNC Charlotte's Alice Hansen 6-1, 6-1, but then lost to Tennessee's Vilmarie Castellvi, 6-2, 6-0.

After winning two matches in the qualifier tournament, The was defeated by Castellvi in the first round of the main draw, 6-2, 6-0.

In doubles action, Dunigan and The, who earned a first round bye, defeated UNC Charlotte's Hansen and Jana Cucciniello 8-3 in the second round before dropping an 8-1 decision to Duke's third-seeded Julie DeRoo and Kelly McCain.

Kovarik and Hagood won their first round match against Chattanooga's Catherine Allen and Cynthia Oulevay, 8-4, but then lost their second round duel against North Carolina's Lee Bairos and Kate Pinchbeck, 8-4.