WILMINGTON, N.C. ­  The Furman women's tennis team began the 2002-03 year on a positive note as the Lady Paladin tennis players collectively gathered three titles at the Doctors Vision Center Invitational Tennis Tournament in Wilmington, N.C.

In singles action, Furman freshman Marti Morris, playing in her first collegiate tournament, defeated UNC Charlotte's Jennifer Hatch 6-2, 6-1 to claim the Flight C title. Furman sophomore Mary Kovarik, meanwhile, dropped her three-set championship battle to Davidson's Kelly Fillnow in Women's Singles Flight A play, 6-7(6), 6-1, 7-5.   

The Lady Paladins also had two doubles tandems win their respective flight championships. In Flight A, Furman's Caroline Bentley and Mary Kovarik upset Middle Tennessee State's top seeded duo of Stacy Varnell and Carmen Venter, 8-2. In Flight B play, Furman's top seeded tandem of Mary Neill Hagood and Krista Thomson defeated College of Charleston's Whitney Malina and Emily Scatuorchio, 8-2.  

The Lady Paladins will look to continue their success when they play host to the 2002 Furman Fall Classic next weekend (Sept. 27-29) at Mickel Tennis Center.