Furman Tops Elon For Men's Tennis Crown

#1 Furman 4, #2 Elon 0

ELON,N.C.? The Furman Paladins recorded their second consecutive Southern Conference Men’s Tennis Tournament title with a 4-0 victory over Elon Sunday afternoon at theJimmyPowellTennisCenter.  Furman has now won three of the last four tournament titles with victories in 2006 and 2008.  The Paladins improved to 22-7 on the season and will advance to the NCAA Men’s Tennis Championships.

The Paladins jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the match with victories at the top two doubles courts.  Andy Juc and Bo Ladyman downed Damon Gooch and Philip Nemec, 8-4 at No. 1 doubles.  Chris Rhyne and Chris Motes then secured the point for the Paladins with an 8-6 win over Chase Helpingstine and Oscar Podlewski at No. 2 doubles.

Daniel Knause held off Nemec in the first set at No. 3 singles, 7-5 before posting a 6-3 win in the second set to give the Paladins a 2-0 lead in the match.  Ladyman, who was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player, pushed FU ahead, 3-0, with his straight-sets win (6-1, 7-5) over Podlewski at No. 2 singles. 

Sawyer Duncan, who dropped the first set at No. 6 singles to Cory Stauffer MacDowell (1-6), rallied to claim a three-set victory (1-6, 6-4, 6-2) which sealed the victory for Furman. 

Elon finished the season at 21-6.