Mercer Falls to No. 1 Furman in Semifinal

Friday, April 21

Chattanooga, Tenn.

2 p.m.

Mercer University

Furman University

4/21/2023 5:20:00 PM | Women's Tennis

Box Score

By: Amanda Cover

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – No. 4 Mercer women's tennis fell to No. 1 Furman, 4-2, in the Southern Conference Championship semifinal on Friday afternoon. The Bears finish the season 13-10 and posted the second-ever season with a winning record in conference play.

The doubles competition played out almost exactly as it did when the two teams met during the regular season just nine days ago. Teodora Ristic and Mary Weston Courville took down No. 67 Jess Dawson and Sara Snyder, 6-3, for their second ranked win of the season, both against the Paladins. Furman won on court three to tie the doubles score.

On court two, Camilla Ciaccia and Eden Schlagenhauf were down 5-4 to Marissa Pennings and Ellie Schulson but held to tie it 5-5. The Mercer duo broke to go up 6-5, but Furman broke back to tie it 6-6 and send it to a tiebreak. The Bears were down 6-2 in the tiebreak but fought back to only 6-5 down. Unfortunately, Furman won the next point to win 7-6 (7-5) and clinch the doubles point.

Furman took a 2-0 lead with a win on court six, but the Bears responded well. Ciaccia won in straight sets 6-4, 6-3 on court four over Dawson to finish 2-0 in singles in the tournament.

Marina de Diego Quinones was persistent in singles and did not give up after falling in the first set, 6-1. She won the second set 6-3 and swept the third set 6-0 to defeat Madison Dillon and tie the match for the Bears.

After dropping the first set, Ristic led the second set 5-2 but could not keep a rhythm and fell 6-2, 7-5 against Schulson. On court two, Courville played competitive sets but could not get the edge in either, falling 7-5, 6-4 to Pennings as Furman clinched the match. When the match concluded, Schlagenhauf was tied in the third set, 0-6, 6-3, 3-3.

This was Mercer's second SoCon semifinal appearance in program history. Furman has won the last five Southern Conference Championship titles.

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