February 5, 2003

16TH RANKED SOUTH CAROLINA EDGES FURMAN WOMEN'S TENNIS, 4-3

GREENVILLE, S.C.-- In a closely contested match from the start, the 16th ranked South Carolina women's tennis team, behind the strength of a couple of comebacks, narrowly defeated the 62nd ranked Furman Lady Paladin tennis team 4-3 in a marathon match at Mickel Tennis Center on Wednesday. With the win, South Carolina moves to 2-0 on the year while Furman drops to 2-3.

South Carolina gained a 1-0 lead when the Gamecocks took the match's doubles point. Although Furman struck first when Krista Thomson and Mary Neill Hagood defeated Danielle Wiggins and Justine Walsh at No. 3, 8-4, the Gamecocks answered by earning victories at the Nos. 1 and 2 positions. At No. 1, Kathy Boyanovich and Magda Wojdylo defeated Mary Kovarik and Caroline Bentley, 8-3, while the Gamecocks' Jodi Kenoyer and Catherine Brown beat Natalie The and Shannon Moore at No. 2, 8-4.

Furman then seized the momentum when the Lady Paladins won singles matches at the Nos. 1 and 3 spots. After Kovarik silenced Boyanovich at No. 1, 6-2, 6-2, The earned a 6-3, 6-4 triumph at No. 3 against Wiggins. South Carolina tied the match at 2-2 when Kenoyer surged back from a one set deficit to defeat Hagood at No. 2, 3-6, 7-5, 6-1. The Lady Paladins regained the lead when Moore won a tough No. 4 singles match in three sets against Wojdylo, 7-6 (4), 2-6, 6-3. South Carolina recovered quickly, however, when Brown erased a one set deficit to defeat Furman's Shellie Cochran at No. 5, 6-7 (1), 6-2, 6-2. The Gamecocks then clinched the victory with a 6-4, 6-4 Walsh triumph at No. 6 against Bentley.

Furman will return to action on February 14th when the Lady Paladins travel to Auburn, Ala. to face the homestanding Tigers at 3:00 p.m.

No. 16 South Carolina 4, No. 62 Furman 3
February 5, 2003
Singles Results
1. Mary Kovarik (FU) def. Kathy Boyanovich (USC), 6-2, 6-2
2. Jodi Kenoyer (USC) def. Mary Neill Hagood (FU), 3-6, 7-5, 6-1
3. Natalie The (FU) def. Danielle Wiggins (USC), 6-3, 6-4
4. Shannon Moore (FU) def. Magda Wojdylo (USC), 7-6 (4), 2-6, 6-3
5. Catherine Brown (USC) def. Shellie Cochran (FU), 6-7 (1), 6-2, 6-2
6. Justine Walsh (USC) def. Caroline Bentley (FU), 6-4, 6-4
Doubles Results
1. Boyanovich/Wojdylo (USC) def. Bentley/Kovarik (FU), 8-3
2. Kenoyer/Brown (USC) def. The/Moore (FU), 8-4
3. Hagood/Krista Thomson (FU) def. Wiggins/Walsh (USC), 8-4