BOX SCORE

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – The fourth-seeded Samford women's tennis team advanced to the championship match of the Southern Conference Tournament with a 4-3 victory over top-seeded Furman in the tournament semifinals Saturday afternoon at Chattanooga's Champions Club.
 
Samford will now face second-seeded ETSU in the tournament title match Sunday at 12 p.m. (CT). Samford improves its season record to 12-11. Furman drops its record to 15-9.
 
The match was decided in the No. 3 singles match where Samford's Savannah Wood earned a hard-fought, 6-2, 6-7, 6-4 win over Furman's Blair Martin.
 
Furman jumped out to an early lead, winning the doubles point. The Paladins won the No. 3 doubles match, 6-2, and the No. 2 match, 6-3 to take an early 1-0 lead.
 
Samford tied the match when Carita Moolman earned a 6-2, 6-1 win over Katarina Weymouth at No. 2 singles. After Furman took a 3-1 lead with wins at No. 6 and No. 1 singles, Samford came back with wins at No. 4, No. 5 and No. 3 singles to earn the win.
 
On the No. 4 court, Ellie Gerlach defeated Karlee Bryde, 6-2, 6-4. At No. 5, Annika Hepp earned a 6-1, 5-7, 6-1 win over Gabby Rodriguez to tie the score at 3-3, setting the stage for Wood's dramatic three-set win at No. 3.
 
Samford will be attempting to win the SoCon Tournament for the second-straight season, as the Bulldogs earned the tournament title last season. The winner of Sunday's championship match will earn the SoCon's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
 
Samford and ETSU met once in the regular season, with the Bucs defeating the Bulldogs, 6-1 on April 3, in Johnson City, Tenn.
 
To follow Sunday's championship match via live stats, click on the following link: SOCON TOURNAMENT CENTRAL.
 
Samford 4, Furman 3
 
Singles competition
1. Ansley Speaks (FUR) def. Jessica Northcutt (SAM-W) 6-4, 6-2
2. Carita Moolman (SAM-W) def. Katarina Weymouth (FUR) 6-2, 6-1
3. Savannah Wood (SAM-W) def. Blair Martin (FUR) 6-2, 6-7 (4-7), 6-4
4. Ellie Gerlach (SAM-W) def. Karlee Bryde (FUR) 6-2, 6-4
5. Annika Hepp (SAM-W) def. Gabby Rodriguez (FUR) 6-1, 5-7, 6-1
6. Harper Caswell (FUR) def. Georgina Jupp (SAM-W) 6-3, 7-5
 
Doubles competition
1. Katarina Weymouth/Ansley Speaks (FUR) vs. Jessica Northcutt/Carita Moolman (SAM-W) 4-5, unfinished
2. Blair Martin/Gabby Rodriguez (FUR) def. Ellie Gerlach/Annika Hepp (SAM-W) 6-3
3. Karlee Bryde/Harper Caswell (FUR) def. Savannah Wood/Georgina Jupp (SAM-W) 6-2