SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Furman’s Julia Adams has been named the Southern Conference women’s tennis player of the week for all matches played from Feb. 22-28, the conference announced on Tuesday.
 
The Paladins faced a trio of ranked opponents at the Blue Gray Tournament in Montgomery, Alabama, on Friday and Saturday. Furman, ranked No. 42 nationally, opened the tournament with a 4-3 win over No. 26 Alabama on Friday before falling 4-0 to No. 10 Oklahoma on Saturday. The Paladins then topped No. 24 Texas Tech 4-2 on Sunday.
 
Against Alabama, Adams and Ellie Schoppe, ranked No. 23 nationally, downed 33^rd-ranked Loudmilla Bencheikh and Anne Marie Hiser, 6-4, at No. 1 doubles. Adams, a senior from Knoxville, Tennessee, fell to Bencheikh at No. 1 singles in three sets, 6-2, 4-6, 6-2.
 
Adams and Schoppe dropped a 6-4 doubles decision to Oklahoma State’s top duo, ranked No. 58 nationally, and Adams’s singles match went unfinished.
 
In the win over Texas Tech to cap the weekend, Adams got a big win at No. 1 singles, rallying to defeat No. 16 Margarita Skirabina, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2. Adams and Schoppe cruised to a 6-1 win over Skriabina and Cristina Tiglea at No. 1 doubles.
 
Furman (9-5) is idle until facing James Madison in Charlotte, North Carolina, on March 19, followed by a match at the Charlotte 49ers the next day.
 
Also nominated: Laylo Bakhodirova (ETSU), Olivia Gallagher (UNCG) and Lily Woods (Wofford).
 
 
SoCon Women’s Tennis Players of the Week
Jan. 25    Laylo Bakhodirova, ETSU
Feb. 1      Ellie Schoppe, Furman
Feb. 8      Ellie Schoppe, Furman
Feb. 15    Samantha Nanere, Samford
Feb. 22    Ellie Schoppe, Furman
March 1   Julia Adams, Furman