Furman 5, Davidson 2

DAVIDSON, N.C. ? With a 5-2 victory over the host Davidson Wildcats Friday afternoon, Furman women’s tennis clinched the regular-season Southern Conference title and secured the top seed in next weekend’s league tournament. The loss is Davidson’s first SoCon defeat this season for a final conference record of 8-1 and overall mark of 16-8. Meanwhile, the Paladins finish the regular season unblemished in the conference at 9-0, toting an overall record of 16-6.

Furman has claimed the SoCon regular-season crown every year since 1999. In last spring’s SoCon Tournament, the Wildcats faced rival Furman in the championship finals, which the Paladins won for the second year in a row.

In addition to winning the doubles point, Furman charted singles victories in straight sets on courts two through five, handing Davidson’s Kim Whelan, Kate Levitt and Meredith Skeeters their first conference losses of the year.

Sophomore Kelsey Linville recorded her eighth consecutive singles triumph, defeating Furman’s Laura Giola in three sets by coming back from an 0-6 decision to win the next two sets, 6-4, 7-5. With the win, Linville improves to 17-6 on the year and 8-1 in the conference. Her victory at the top spot was one of two singles wins for Davidson on the afternoon.

On the number-six court, Wildcat freshman Lora Dushanova battled Lauren Tomory to win in a come-from-behind effort, 2-6, 6-2, 10-8. Dushanova, who boosted her overall individual record to 16-4, is the only member of Davidson’s squad to finish the regular season with a perfect league record at 9-0.

Next on the slate for both teams will be the SoCon Tournament, April 20-23, in Charleston, S.C., featuring Furman as the top seed and Davidson as the two-seed.

Furman 5, Davidson 2
Doubles
Giola/Morris (FUR) def. Linville/Whelan (DAV): 8-3
Eckert/Osborne (FUR) def. Powel/Fanney (DAV): 8-2
Moore/Davis (FUR) def. Levitt/Dushanova (DAV): 8-7

Singles
Kelsey Linville (DAV) def. Laura Giola (FUR): 0-6, 6-4, 7-5
Marti Morris (FUR) def. Michele Fanney (DAV): 7-5, 6-3
Lauren Osborne (FUR) def. Kim Whelan (DAV): 6-3, 6-2
Shannon Moore (FUR) def. Kate Levitt (DAV): 6-3, 6-3
Bonnie Baird (FUR) def. Meredith Skeeters (DAV): 7-5, 6-0
Lora Dushanova (DAV) def. Lauren Tomory (FUR): 2-6, 6-2, 10-8