Elon to Face #2 Furman in SoCon Men’s Tennis Finals

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – For the sixth time in the last eight seasons, the Elon University men’s tennis team is going to the Southern Conference Tournament finals. This time around, Elon will play second-seeded Furman tomorrow, April 19, at 10 a.m. at the Champions Club.

LOOKING BACK: Playing for the second time in nine days against each other, Elon topped Appalachian State by the score of 4-0 today to advance to the finals. Elon took the doubles point from the Mountaineers with wins on court Nos. 2 and 3, then breezed through three singles victories from Cameron Silverman, Stefan Fortmann and Jordan Kaufman to clinch the victory.

Silverman’s 6-4, 6-1 win on court No. 1 marked his 61st career win at Elon, pulling him three from tying the program mark of 64, which was set by former standout Damon Gooch in 2009. In doubles, Fortmann and Juan Madrid took an 8-4 decision on court No. 3. The victory moved their record together to 13-0 this season and 11-0 in SoCon play.

ELON vs. FURMAN: When Elon and Furman met earlier this season on April 5 in Greenville, S.C., both sides were unbeaten in SoCon play at 6-0. Elon came out on top of the Paladins by the score of 6-1 to take sole possession of first place in the conference. In 15 matches all-time between the Phoenix and Paladins, Furman holds a 9-6 advantage over Elon, but Elon has won four of the last five contests between the two, including sweeping the Paladins in the regular season and SoCon Tournament last season.

SCOUTING THE PALADINS: To date, Elon remains Furman’s only SoCon loss of the season. In the first two rounds of the conference tournament, Furman has avoided the upset by winning 4-3 in holding off No. 7 Wofford in the quarterfinals and No. 3 UNC Greensboro in the semifinals. Today against the Spartans, the match came down to Furman’s Ben Horst on court No. 6. Horst was down 5-3 in the third set with the match tied at three before he broke UNCG’s Cameron Smith twice and held serve twice to keep the Paladins alive.

Furman has won the SoCon Tournament 14 times, a SoCon-best mark, while Elon has won just once. Elon’s only championship came in 2007 while Furman’s last title came in 2009.