March 17, 2004

JACKSONVILLE, Ala. - The Samford women's tennis team remains unbeaten in the Ohio Valley Conference with a dominating 6-1 victory over in-state rival Jacksonville State. The Bulldogs (8-3, 4-0 OVC) swept the doubles competition and won five-of-six singles matches against the Gamecocks (4-6, 1-2).

"I am very proud of the way that the girls played today," Head coach Terri Sisk said. "They stepped up and showed that they can win the OVC Championship. They have just worked so hard to get this far, but there is still a lot of work ahead of us."

The doubles team of Emily Nunnally and Katie Crawford took care of business on court one with an 8-5 victory. That match would be as close as it would get in doubles. The Bulldog duo of Emily White and Sarah McKey won on court two, 8-2. While on court three Jen Pharr and Bethany Benson disposed of their opponents 8-1.

Nunnally continued to dominate in singles with a 6-2, 6-3 victory at No. 1. White had no problems on court three winning 6-3, 6-4 as did McKey on court four, 6-3, 6-2. Jacksonville State's Erin Higgs took Pharr to three sets, before falling to the junior 6-3, 2-6, 6-1. On court six, Benson had no difficulty, she won 6-4, 6-3.

Samford will return home to host Georgia State on Friday, March 19 at 2:00.

Samford 6 Jacksonville State 1

Doubles:
1. Nunnally/Crawford (SU) d. Gorman/Dushner (JSU) 8-5
2. White/McKey (SU) d. Abby/Gurkanak (JSU) 8-2
3. Pharr/Benson (SU) d. Higgs/Gaze (JSU) 8-1

Singles:
1. Emily Nunnally (SU) d. Zeynep Gurkanak (JSU) 6-2, 6-3
2. Robin Gorman (JSU) d. Katie Crawford (SU) 6-3, 6-0
3. Emily White (SU) d. Michelle Dushner (JSU) 6-3, 6-4
4. Sarah McKey (SU) d. Layla Abby (JSU) 6-3, 6-2
5. Jen Pharr (SU) d. Erin Higgs (JSU) 6-3, 2-6, 6-1
6. Bethany Benson (SU) d. Whitney Collins (JSU) 6-4, 6-3