April 28, 2008

GREENVILLE, S.C. -

By Melissa Murphy

A dynamic duo, Furman men's and women's tennis are gaining momentum as they head to the NCAA Division I Championship after recently claiming the Southern Conference Championship. The driving force behind their success: a challenging pre-season schedule, hard work and team unity.

Although both teams were favored to win the SoCon due to their first place finish in the regular season championship, reaching the finals was achieved by focusing on one match at a time. SoCon Tournament Most Outstanding Player Laura Gioia says coach Southern stresses that every team has "new life" at the tournament, making it easy to get ahead of yourself. Gioia continues, "there is added pressure because everyone wants to beat us".

The men's team agrees. According to sophomore Jordan Walters, "everyone guns for us and gets fired up to play us". Walters spent extra time hitting with team member Chris Motes after his Saturday match in preparation for the Sunday finals against Elon. "I knew for the team to win, I had to step up". Walters executed his best performance of the year with doubles partner Bo Ladyman, defeating Mason Schermerhorn and Alberto Rojas 8-3 to secure the win.

Although the Furman women are a winning dynasty, senior Natasha Manojlovic explains that coach Southern calls them a "blue collar team" because hard work is the foundation of their success. "People take it for granted that we are a winning team, but each year we must keep working hard", says Manojlovic. Junior Lauren Tomory says that coach Southern emphasizes "a lot of heart," and sophomore Jessica Preeg adds that coach focuses on the entire experience: matches are serious, downtime is fun. It's important to Gioia and the rest of the team to enjoy this "opportunity to play tennis at such a high level."

During these elite tournaments, coach Scarpa concentrates on maintaining energy and enthusiasm beginning with doubles and carrying it over into singles. Walter's explains that "it's very important to coach that we are moving around and encouraging each other."

Being unified on and off the court has shaped these powerhouse teams. "We don't play as individuals, we play as a team where everyone is responsible because we all work really hard," says Manojlovic. This is why, according to Tomory, that "no one ever tanks a match". Preeg, a transfer from UVA, says the Furman team is much closer because the team not only plays for each other but wants to be together. Senior leadership is stressed and italso helped that the team took a retreat together this past January. Tomory explains that, "because the program was established to be closely bonded, coach selects girls that will fit."

For them men's team, captain Bo Ladyman says the team dynamics have beenbuilding since his freshman year. "It's been and up and down ride as far as practices and matches," but strong leadership and discipline have fueled the Paladin's success. Walters agrees that it's not about the individual wins but the victory for the team. "We step up for each other and it helps that everyone has the same attitude".

Representing the SoCon at the NCAAs presents a new challenge with the magnitude of competition. The Paladins, however, are gearing up for their best performance yet at the championship.

According to Gioia, "there is a lot less pressure. We're going from being the best to an atmosphere where we have nothing to lose, so we will fight our hardest." The lady Paladins have won a first round match only once in the school's history, while them men have never made it to a second round.

Yet Ladyman is confident that the men's team is in a perfect position to peak at the NCAA. "The team is coming together at the right time," Ladyman explains, and "it's all about keeping guys fired up and mentally ready."

Both teams are focused on winning the first round, taking it step by step. Ladyman and Walters also plan to remain undefeated in men's doubles. There is much excitement for both teams who believe anything is possible.