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IMMEDIATE RELEASE Back-to-Back Matches Netters Defeat Shenandoah 4-2, Chowan 4-3 FERRUM, Va. – Ferrum College picked up a pair of wins in he past two days, defeating USA South Athletic Conference opponent Shenandoah University 4-2 April 9 on the road, and Div. II opponent Chowan College 4-3 April 10 at home. April 9: Ferrum 4, Shenandoah 2 April 10: Ferrum 4, Chowan 3 Against Shenandoah, seniors Matt Brantley (Norlina, N.C./Warren County) and Erich Trier (Middleburg, Va./Loudoun Valley) teamed for a win at #1 doubles, then each won at #2 and #3 singles, respectively. Also winning in doubles for the Panthers were freshman Mike Sampson (Wirtz, Va./Franklin County) and junior Stephen Brown (West Point, Va./West Point) at the #2 spot. Freshman Jordan Bakos (Richmond, Va./James River) added a win at #5 singles. The match had been postponed due to rain from April 8 at Shenandoah, and was played April 9 at Lynchburg College. Ferrum's women also competed against Shenandoah April 9, falling 7-1. Senior Valerie Lord (Ocean City, N.J./Ocean City) and sophomore Tabitha Brown (Blacksburg, Va./Blacksburg) won 9-8 at #2 doubles, winning the tiebreak 7-4. April 9: Shenandoah 7, Ferrum 1 The Panthers then picked up the 4-3 win over a solid Chowan team that featured a number of scholarship players. Sampson and Brown won easily at #3 doubles, while Paine and senior Paul Matthews (Glen Allen, Va./J.R. Tucker) battled to a 9-8 win at #1 doubles, winning the tiebreaker 7-5. Paine & Matthews' nail-biter win at #1 doubles gave Ferrum a 1-0 lead heading into singles play. Paine and Brown each won in straight sets at #5 and #6 singles, respectively. Brantley won at #3 singles to lock up the 4-3 team win. Ferrum closed out regular season play at 11-6 overall with the two wins. Coach Gary Holden's team will play next in the 2006 USA South Tennis Tournament, to be played Thursday through Saturday, April 13-15, at the Burlington Tennis Complex in North Carolina. Ferrum will be the #4 seed, facing #5 Greensboro College in the quarterfinal round Thursday at 1 p.m. The semifinals are set for Friday at 2 p.m., while the championship will be Saturday at 10 a.m. # # # |
