CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (April 19, 2025) – The ETSU women's tennis team battled No. 38 Furman tough in the SoCon Tournament Final, but the top-seeded Paladins came away with the 4-3 victory. Saturday's loss ends ETSU's season with a record of 14-9.
 
Saturday's contest began with three very competitive doubles matches. Furman ultimately earned that first point by edging out the Bucs by scores of 7-5 and 7-6. The Paladins then notched the first point in singles thanks to a 7-5, 6-4 win by Jess Dawson to make it 2-0 Furman.
 
ETSU answered with victories from Julia Millan (6-3, 6-3) and Ksenija Rage (6-2, 6-3) to pull the match back even at 2-2. Daniela Rivera then grinded out a 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 win from the No. 1 singles flight to give the Bucs their first lead of the afternoon.
 
Furman's Macy Hitchcock pulled the Paladins back even with a 7-6, 6-2 win. The match came down the No. 2 singles match between Alessandra Caceres from ETSU and Marissa Pennings from Furman. Pennings won the first set 6-2 but Caceres battled back to win the second frame, 6-4, setting up a winner take all third set. That set went to Pennings giving Furman its 22^nd SoCon Tournament Title.
 
Saturday's full match results can be found below.
 
Singles Competition
1. Daniela Rivera (ETSU) def. Sara Snyder (FUR) 6-4, 4-6, 6-3
2. Marissa Pennings (FUR) def. Alessandra Caceres (ETSU) 6-2, 4-6, 6-2
3. Jess Dawson (FUR) def. Jana Rovira (ETSU) 7-5, 6-4
4. Julia Millan (ETSU) def. Ellie Schulson (FUR) 6-3, 6-3
5. Macy Hitchcock (FUR) def. Ralitsa Alexandrova (ETSU) 7-6 (7-5), 6-2
6. Ksenija Rage (ETSU) def. Grace Thomas (FUR) 6-2, 6-3
 
Doubles Competition
1. Ellie Schulson/Sara Snyder (FUR) def. Daniela Rivera/Alessandra Caceres (ETSU) 7-5
2. Jess Dawson/Macy Hitchcock (FUR) def. Jana Rovira/Julia Millan (ETSU) 7-6 (7-4)
3. Alexa Griffith/Marissa Pennings (FUR) vs. Ralitsa Alexandrova/Ksenija Rage (ETSU) 5-6, unfinished

For more information on Buccaneer women's tennis, visit ETSUBucs.com and click on the women's tennis tab.