May 11, 2002

Chapel Hill, N.C. ----- Furman University defeated LSU, 4-1, in the first round of the NCAA Women?s Tennis Championships at the Cone-Kenfield Center on the University of North Carolina campus. Due to early morning rains in Chapel Hill the match had to be moved indoors.

?I think our team came out and played with a great desire to win the match,? said Furman head coach Debbie Southern. ?We really wanted to advance to the second round of the tournament. They all came out and were willing to do whatever it takes to win the match.?

Furman?s Mary Neill Hagood secured the winning point with a 6-3, 7-5 victory over Amanda Mang at No. 4 singles. The Paladins also earned victories at No. 2 singles and No. 6 singles. Mary Kovarik defeated Rocio Fantilli, 6-0, 6-3 at No. 2 and Caroline Bentley won a straight set match, 6-1, 6-1 at No. 6.

LSU won its only point at the No. 1 position when the Tigers? Bruna Colosio defeated Megan Dunigan, 6-3, 6-4.

The Paladins claimed the doubles point with victories at No. 2 and No. 3 doubles. Caroline Bentley and Mary Kovarik defeated LSU?s Tami Botts and Amy McIlhaney, 8-3 at No. 2 doubles. The Tigers did not fair much better on court three as Furman?s Mary Neil Hagood and Gene Holman upended Perri Budd and Amanda Mang, 8-4.

Furman will face the winner of the North Carolina vs. Loyola (Md.) match.

Singles
No. 1 ? Bruna Colosio (LSU) def. Megan Dunigan (Furman), 6-3, 6-4
No. 2 ? Mary Kovarik (Furman) def. Racio Fantilli (LSU), 6-0, 6-3
No. 3 ? Tami Botts (LSU) vs. Gene Holman (Furman), suspended
No. 4 ? Mary Neill Hagood (Furman) def. Amanda Mang (LSU), 6-3, 7-5*
No. 5 ? Amy McIlhaney (LSU) vs. Natalie The (Furman), suspended
No. 6 ? Carolina Bentley (Furman) def. Bonnie White (LSU), 6-1, 6-1
*clinching match

Doubles
No. 1 - Megan Dunigan/Natalie The (Furman) vs. Bruna Colosio/Rocio Fantilli (LSU), suspended
No. 2 - Caroline Bentley/Mary Kovarik (Furman) def. Tami Botts/Amy McIlhaney (LSU), 8-3
No. 3 - Mary Neil Hagood/Gene Holman (Furman) def. Perri Budd/Amanda Mang (LSU), 8-4 (clinch doubles point)