April 2, 2003

GREENVILLE, S.C.-- The Western Carolina Catamounts (5-10, 0-6 SoCon) were shut out by the Furman Paladins (10-8, 5-0), 7-0, on Wednesday at the Mickel Tennis Center. The win marked the 49th consecutive victory against a conference opponent for the Lady Paladins.

Furman began by sweeping the Catamounts in doubles action. At No. 1, Mary Kovarik and Natalie The defeated Shannon Zalinski and Megan Bechtold, 8-3. Krista Thomson and Mary Neill Hagood then netted an 8-0 victory at No. 3 against Kristin Cotton and Katie VanEwyk. Despite a valiant effort by the Catamounts, Shannon Moore and Marti Morris held off Rocio Perez and Erin Johnson at No. 2, 8-5.

Furman's Kovarik, Hagood, The, Moore, Shellie Cochran, and Lauren Welch then sealed the match by earning straight-set singles victories for the Lady Paladins.

Western Carolina now heads to Boone, N.C., for a Noon match against the Mountaineers on Saturday, April 5.

Furman 7, Western Carolina 0

Singles Results
1. Mary Kovarik (FU) def. Rocio Perez (WCU), 6-1, 6-1
2. Mary Neill Hagood (FU) def. Megan Bechtold (WCU), 6-3, 6-2
3. Natalie The (FU) def. Kristin Munn (WCU), 6-0, 6-1
4. Shannon Moore (FU) def. Erin Johnson (WCU), 6-1, 6-1
5. Shellie Cochran (FU) def. Kristin Cotton (WCU), 6-0, 6-1
6. Lauren Welch (FU) def. Shannon Zalinski (WCU), 6-0, 6-1

Doubles Results
1. Kovarik/The (FU) def. Zalinski/Bechtold (WCU), 8-3
2. Moore/Marti Morris (FU) def. Perez/Johnson (WCU), 8-5
3. Hagood/Krista Thomson (FU) def. Cotton/VanEwyk (WCU), 8-0