CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Ranked number one in the Southern Conference, the Furman University Lady Paladins defeated the eighth-seeded Lady Bucs of East Tennessee State University 4-0 in the second round of the Southern Conference Women’s Tennis Championships at the City of Charleston Farmfield Courts this afternoon. The win marks Furman's 54th consecutive victory against a league opponent.

Furman earned the doubles' point with wins at the No. 1 and 3 positions. Mary Kovarik and Natalie The won the first match 8-5 over ETSU’s Sylwia Ziolkowska and Aime Villavicencio. Furman’s Krista Thomson and Mary Neill Hagood then topped Tatiana Arriaran and Jewel Aldea 8-2 to clinch the doubles point.

In singles action, Kovarik defeated Ziolkowska 6-1, 6-0 at No. 1 singles, followed by a 6-2, 6-2 The victory at No. 3 against Jessica Irey. Lauren Welch clinched the win for the Lady Paladins in flight six action when she defeated Villavicencio, 6-0, 6-3.

The Lady Paladins will face the Wildcats of Davidson in an 8:30 a.m. semifinal match on Friday at The Citadel's Earle Tennis Center.

Furman 4, East Tennessee State 0
April 17, 2003
Singles Results
1. Mary Kovarik (FUR) def. Sylaria Ziolkowska, 6-1, 6-0
2. Mary Neill Hagood led Gemma Halin, DNF (FUR 6-4, 3-0)
3. Natalie The (FUR) def. Jessica Irey, 6-2, 6-2
4. Shannon Moore led Jewel Aldea, DNF (FUR 6-0, 5-2)
5. Shellie Cochran led Courtney McInnis, DNF (FUR 6-4, 5-2)
6. Lauren Welch (FUR) def. Amie Villavicencio, 6-0, 6-3
Doubles Results
1. Kovarik/The (FUR) def. Ziolkowska/Villavicencio, 8-5
2. Moore/Marti Morris led Halin/Irey DNF (FUR 7-4)
3. Hagood/Krista Thomson (FUR) def. Aldea/Tatiana Arriaran, 8-3