Elon Reaches SoCon Women’s Tennis Finals with Win vs. #1 Furman

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – The Elon University women’s tennis team upset the top-seeded Furman Paladins today, April 18, in the semifinals of the Southern Conference Tournament by the score of 4-3 at the Champions Club to advance to tomorrow’s championship match.

After dropping her first set on court No. 4 against Karlee Bryde, Barbora Lazarova rebounded to take the second set, 7-5, before clinching the match for the fourth-seeded Phoenix with a 6-1 victory in the third set to send Elon to the finals for the second season in a row.

In the finals, the Phoenix will take on No. 2 Samford at 2 p.m. Samford reached the championship match by way of a 4-0 victory over No. 3 Chattanooga. This season, Elon fell 5-2 to Samford on April 5 in Birmingham, Ala.

With the win today, the Phoenix avenged a 4-3 loss on March 21 against the Paladins at the Jimmy Powell Tennis Center. In that match, Furman won the doubles point. This time around, the Phoenix were the victors of what turned out to be a crucial doubles point.

Bryn Khoury and Taylor Casey were the first Elon duo off the courts, as the pair topped Bryde and Amanda Murray at No. 3 doubles by the score of 8-4. Furman knotted the doubles point at one with a win on court No. 1, but Frida Jansaker and Maria Camara Ruiz clinched the point for Elon on court No. 2 with a thrilling 8-7, tiebreaker win.

Jansaker continued her winning ways as the match turned to the singles portion, as the senior beat Alex Moreno-Kaste on court No. 2, 7-5, 6-1. The win was Jansaker’s team-leading 17th of the season.

After Tolley Rice dropped a 6-1, 6-2 decision on court No. 6, Khoury made it 3-1 Elon with a convincing 6-4, 6-1 victory over Katherine Oudin.

Before Lazarova clinched the match, the Paladins made their best comeback effort with three-set wins from Kelly Sullivan on court No. 4 and SoCon Player of the Year Ansley Speaks on court No. 1.

With the match on Lazarova’s racquet, the junior came through with her 15th win of the season to put Elon in the finals against the Bulldogs.

Both Elon and Samford have never won the SoCon Tournament. Elon lost to College of Charleston last season in the finals held at the Jimmy Powell Tennis Center.

Tennis Match Results
Elon vs Furman
Apr 18, 2014 at Chattanooga, Tenn.
(Champions Club)
Elon 4, Furman 3

Singles competition
1. Ansley Speaks (FUR) def. Jordan Johnston (ELON) 7-6 (7-4), 1-6, 6-2
2. Frida Jansaker (ELON) def. Alex Moreno-Kaste (FUR) 7-5, 6-1
3. Bryn Khoury (ELON) def. Katherine Oudin (FUR) 6-4, 6-1
4. Barbora Lazarova (ELON) def. Karlee Bryde (FUR) 4-6, 6-5, 6-1
5. Kelly Sullivan (FUR) def. Maria Camara Ruiz (ELON) 6-2, 1-6, 6-3
6. Blair Martin (FUR) def. Tolley Rice (ELON) 6-1, 6-2

Doubles competition
1. Alex Moreno-Kaste/Katherine Oudin (FUR) def. Jordan Johnston/Barbora Lazarova (ELON) 8-4
2. Frida Jansaker/Maria Camara Ruiz (ELON) def. Blair Martin/Ansley Speaks (FUR) 8-7
3. Bryn Khoury/Taylor Casey (ELON) def. Karlee Bryde/Amanda Murray (FUR) 8-4

Match Notes:
Elon 14-8
Furman 17-6
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (2,6,3,5,1,4)