Scarpa becomes winningest coach as Furman tops Yale
By: Owen Mercer
Issue date: 3/27/09 Section: Sports
With a 6-1 win over Ivy League foe Yale on March 6, Furman Tennis Head Coach Paul Scarpa became the NCAA Division I's all-time winningest tennis coach, passing former Hawaii coach Jim Schwitters with win number 820.
"This record is a great thing for our team and all the players who have been part of this program," said Scarpa. "I am happy because it makes all those who have gone to Furman, tennis players or not, proud to be a part of history. Most of all, I'm glad we won. This was not an easy match, but we played very hard. Yale is a great place to play with a tremendous tennis heritage."
The Paladins took the match behind the performance of senior captain Andy Juc. At the number one doubles position, Juc and Chris Motes secured the doubles point with a hard-fought 9-7 victory. In singles, 89th-ranked Juc defeated the Bulldogs' Jeff Dawson 6-4, 6-7, 12-10, a crucial singles victory for the Paladins.
Since that match, save a 4-3 loss at Princeton, the Paladins have dominated, winning five matches in a row, including three against Southern Conference competition. Furman defeated Appalachian State 5-2 in a tough Conference opener, and defeated both Davidson and Georgia Southern 7-0. With these wins, the Paladins look to be on track for another Southern Conference Championship.
The only recent loss for the Paladins was that of freshman Phillip Fuelkell, an emerging star for the Paladin tennis team, who has left the team and the university to attend medical school in Germany. Fuelkell will be difficult to replace as he had had an outstanding season playing primarily at the number 4 or 5 singles position.
"Phil was a great asset to the team, both in matches and in practice," said senior Bo Ladyman. "He always came to practice with a smile on his face and was always trying to get better."
There are, however, many other players on this deep squad that can, and will, rise to the challenge to replace Fuelkell.
"This record is a great thing for our team and all the players who have been part of this program," said Scarpa. "I am happy because it makes all those who have gone to Furman, tennis players or not, proud to be a part of history. Most of all, I'm glad we won. This was not an easy match, but we played very hard. Yale is a great place to play with a tremendous tennis heritage."
The Paladins took the match behind the performance of senior captain Andy Juc. At the number one doubles position, Juc and Chris Motes secured the doubles point with a hard-fought 9-7 victory. In singles, 89th-ranked Juc defeated the Bulldogs' Jeff Dawson 6-4, 6-7, 12-10, a crucial singles victory for the Paladins.
Since that match, save a 4-3 loss at Princeton, the Paladins have dominated, winning five matches in a row, including three against Southern Conference competition. Furman defeated Appalachian State 5-2 in a tough Conference opener, and defeated both Davidson and Georgia Southern 7-0. With these wins, the Paladins look to be on track for another Southern Conference Championship.
The only recent loss for the Paladins was that of freshman Phillip Fuelkell, an emerging star for the Paladin tennis team, who has left the team and the university to attend medical school in Germany. Fuelkell will be difficult to replace as he had had an outstanding season playing primarily at the number 4 or 5 singles position.
"Phil was a great asset to the team, both in matches and in practice," said senior Bo Ladyman. "He always came to practice with a smile on his face and was always trying to get better."
There are, however, many other players on this deep squad that can, and will, rise to the challenge to replace Fuelkell.