SPARTANBURG, S.C. ? The 2008 Southern Conference Men’s and Women’s Tennis Championship will begin Thursday, April 17 at 10:00 a.m. in Charleston, S.C. Matches will run from Thursday, April 17 through Sunday, April 20, at the City of Charleston’s Farmfield Court and The Citadel’s Earle Tennis Center.
Furman ended the season with a 9-0 conference record, earning the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament. Furman is ranked 67th by Intercollegiate Tennis Association and will enter the tournament with a nine match winning streak. The Paladins will begin play on Friday, April 18 against the winner of the Chattanooga/College of Charleston match.
Elon finished the season 7-2 behind the play of Philip Nemec, Oscar Podlewski and Chase Helpinstine to earn the second seed in the tournament. Wofford freshman Paul Bartholomy and senior Andrew Stubbs led the terriers to the third seed. Wofford will face sixth-seeded Citadel on Friday, April 18. Appalachian State, the fourth seed, will begin play on Friday as well against the fifth-seeded Davidson Wildcats.
Seeds seven through 10 will begin play on Thursday, April 17 with eighth seeded Chattanooga playing ninth seeded College of Charleston and seventh seeded Georgia Southern against tenth seeded UNC Greensboro at City of Charleston’s Farmfield Courts at noon.
Furman women’s team earns the one seed in the tournament by posting a 9-0 conference record. All of Furman’s participating players have won ten or more matches. Monica Arguello, Natasa Manojlovic and Lauren Osbourne are undefeated in conference action. The Lady Paladins are ranked 68th by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association. Furman will begin play on Friday, April 18 against the winner of the Chattanooga/Appalachian State match.
College of Charleston received a second seed due to the help off Anna Lee Evans who is 21-1 overall and 9-0 in conference action. The Cougars will face the winner of the Georgia Southern/Western Carolina match. Davidson used a balance line-up to finish 7-2 in conference action and earn a third seed in the tournament. Davidson will face six seeded Wofford on Friday, April 18.
The rest of women’s field will begin play on Thursday, April 17 at The Earle Tennis Center at The Citadel. Eighth seeded Chattanooga will face ninth seeded Appalachian State and seventh seeded Georgia Southern will play against tenth seeded Western Carolina.
The teams that win the Southern Conference Tennis Championships will receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Championships. For more information on the 2008 men’s and women’s tennis championships, please visit www.soconsports.com.