Sunday, April 22, 2001

Johnson City, Tenn. -- The top seeded Furman University mens tennis team defeated No. 3 East Tennessee State, 4-1 to avenge a 5-2 loss to the Bucs on April 11 and win the 2001 Southern Conference Championship from Charleston, S.C.

The Paladins championship breaks a string of three consecutive titles won by the leagues two Tennessee schools (Chattanooga in 1998 and 2000, and East Tennessee State in 1999).

Furman, 19-9 on the season, took the doubles point and recorded victories in No. 2, 3 and 6 singles for the win. The Paladins James Cameron, a sophomore from Zimbabwe who was named the tournaments most outstanding player, took his No. 2 singles match by defeating Marcos Pavlovich, 6-1, 6-2. John Chesworth, playing at No. 3 for Furman, downed his ETSU opponent, Juan Yannuzzi, by 6-3, 6-4 scores, and Eric Ward, at No. 6, stopped Francisco Diaz, 6-0, 6-4.

The Buccaneers recorded their lone win as senior Gustavo Gomez defeated Lee Nickell, 6-2, 6-1 at No. 1 singles. The win is Gomezs 25th win in his last 26 matches.

Furman, which earned an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament, has now won three of the last nine Southern Conference crowns.

The Buccaneers end their season at 13-12 and 9-2 in Southern Conference play.

No. 1 Furman 4, No. 3 East Tennessee State 1

SINGLES:
Gustavo Gomez (ETSU) def. Lee Nickell (F), 6-2, 6-1
James Cameron (F) def. Marcos Palvovich (ETSU), 6-1, 6-2
John Chesworth (F) def. Juan Yannuzzi (ETSU), 6-3, 6-4
Patrick Gaughan (F) vs. Pablo Sahagun (ETSU), DNF 6-1, 3-6, 1-0
Roberto Fernandez (ETSU) vs. Chris Henderson (F), DNF 6-3, 5-2
Eric Ward (F) def. Francisco Diaz (ETSU), 6-0, 6-4

DOUBLES:
Gustavo Gomez / Roberto Fernandez (ETSU) vs. James Cameron / John Chesworth (F) DNF 6-5
Andrew Rogers / Patrick Fillnow (F) def. Marcos Palvovich / Juan Yannuzzi (ETSU), 8-5
Charlie Lloyd / Chris Henderson (F) def. Pablo Sahagun / Francisco Diaz (ETSU), 8-4