BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Both men's and women's tennis defeated uptown-rival Birmingham-Southern today (March 10) as the women's team (6-3, 1-1 OVC) finished with a score 4-3, while the men's team (8-5, 2-0 OVC) posted a final score of 5-2. The match was held at the BSC Tennis Center, located on the campus of Birmingham-Southern.
"I am extremely proud of how the team played today," said women's head coach Terri Sisk. "My girls played with amazing heart and showed outstanding efforts in all the key things we have worked on. We really needed to be tighter on doubles as we did look much better. We are looking forward to conference competition tomorrow and hope to bring the same confidence we showed today."
"We got off to a slow start in doubles," said men's head coach Kemper Baker. "But I am very happy that the team bounced back, which showed a lot of heart. We hope to keep the winning momentum going for tomorrow's conference competition against Tennessee State."
On the women's side, Birmingham-Southern gained the doubles point after winning at No. 2 and No. 3. Samford's Emily White and Sarah McKey won the only doubles match for the Bulldogs against BSC's Malina/ Nix, 8-5.
In singles, the Bulldogs finished with four out of six wins against the Panthers to take the match. At No.1, White defeated Williams (6-3, 6-2), while at. No. 3 Katie McMiller defeated Humphrey (6-2, 6-3) and Bethany Benson at court No. 4 defeated Ragsdale (6-2, 6-3). At this point both teams were tied, (3-3) as Christie Baker finished with a three game-set and the final win for the Bulldogs against Boucher, 6-4, 3-6 (6-4).
On the men's side, Birmingham-Southern gained the doubles point after winning at No. 1 and No. 2. Samford's James Bryce and Johnny Griffee won the only doubles match for the Bulldogs against Panther's Haas/Ray, 8-5.
In singles, the Bulldogs finished with five out of six wins against BSC to take the match. In a three-game set, Manuel Miletic defeated Richter at court No. 1(3-6, 6-4, 10-5), while at No. 2 Stuart Misner defeated Baumgardner (6-2, 7-5) and Johnny Griffee defeated Turner at court No. 4 (6-4, 6-2). Bradley Weaver and Hank Grant finished off the Panthers with wins at No. 5 and No. 6.
SCORES:
Samford Women 4
Birmingham-Southern 3
Doubles:
No 1 White/McKey (SAM) def. Malina/Nix (BSC), 8-5
No. 2 Williams/Ragsdale (BSC) def. Crawford/Benson (SAM), 8-6
No. 3 Kirk/ Humphrey (BSC) def. McMiller/Baker (SAM), 8-3
Singles:
No. 1 White (SAM) def. Williams (BSC) 6-3, 6-2
No. 2 Malina (BSC) def. McKey (SAM) 6-2, 6-7(3), 7-5
No. 3 McMiller (SAM) def. Humphrey (BSC) 6-2, 6-3
No. 4 Benson (SAM) def. Ragsdale (BSC) C
No. 5 Nix (BSC) def. Crawford (SAM) 6-4, 6-2
No. 6 Baker (SAM) def. Boucher (BSC) 6-4, 3-6 (6-4)
Samford Men 5
Birmingham-Southern 2
Doubles:
Baumgardner/Ritcher (BSC) def. Miletic/Silveira (SAM), 9-8
Engler/Turner (BSC) def. Misner/Grant (SAM), 8-4
Griffee/Bryce (SAM) def. Haas/Ray (BSC), 8-5
Singles:
No. 1 Miletic (SAM) def. Richter (BSC) 3-6, 6-4 (10-5)
No. 2 Misner (SAM) def. Baumgardner (BSC) 6-2, 7-5
No. 3 Engler (BSC) def. Silveira (SAM) 6-3, 6-3
No. 4 Griffee (SAM) def. Turner (BSC) 6-4, 6-2
No.5 Weaver (SAM) def. Ray (BSC) 6-4, 6-2
No. 6 Grant (SAM) def. Haas (BSC) 6-4, 6-2
Tennis will play host to OVC-rival Tennessee State on Friday, March 11 at the Darwin C. Harrison Tennis Center, located on the campus of Samford University in Birmingham, Ala. Match time is set for a 3 p.m. start. The women's team will also play host to OVC-rival SEMO on Sunday, March 13 at 3 p.m.
