March 4, 2005

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford University tennis teams split a pair of Ohio Valley Conference matches on Friday as the Bulldogs' men's squad rallied for a 6-1 victory over the Tennessee-Martin Skyhawks and the women's team dropped a 6-1 decision at the Darwin C. Hardison Tennis Center.

Samford (6-4, 2-0 OVC) extended its winning streak to three-consecutive matches on Friday and remained undefeated against conference opponents this season.

On Feb. 26, the Bulldogs' men's team opened league play with a 6-1 victory over Eastern Illinois in Nashville, Tenn. Samford improved to 2-1 while competing at home this season and will continue its spring schedule on Sunday versus Southern Miss.

Tennessee-Martin (2-1, 1-1 OVC) lost its first match of the 2005 dual season on Friday and picked up its lone win of the day on court No. 1.

The Bulldogs swept through the doubles matches, 3-0, and then rallied for straight-set singles victories on courts No. 2-No. 6.

Samford's tandem of Manuel Miletic and Renan Silveira breezed by the Skyhawks' pair of brothers in Gustavo Anzola and Adolfo Anzola on court No. 1, 8-3, while the Bulldogs' Stuart Misner and Hank Grant defeated UTM's Ben Hatchwell and Dirk Prinsloo, 8-4, in a matchup on court No. 2.

On court No. 3, Samford's doubles combination of Johnny Griffee and James Bryce rallied past the Skyhawks' duo of Chris Slabbert and Danny McGwire, 8-3.

In singles play, the Bulldogs earned victories on courts No. 2-No. 6 to secure the lopsided 6-1 overall victory.

Samford's Misner outlasted Prinsloo, 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, in a three-set marathon on court No. 2 on Friday, while the Bulldogs' Weaver, Silveira, Grant and Griffee eased their way to straight-set wins.

Despite a dominating 8-0 victory from the Bulldogs' Emily White and Sarah McKey in the No. 1 doubles match, the Samford University women's team (4-3, 0-1 OVC) dropped the overall doubles point, 2-1.

In singles play, the Bulldogs' highly-touted freshman Katie McMiller earned a quick 6-4, 6-1, straight-set victory over Tennessee-Martin's (3-0, 2-0 OVC) Jeanne deWet on court No. 3.

Samford fought hard in singles play, but the Skyhawks rallied for three-set wins on courts No. 2 and No. 5, and upended the Bulldogs in the singles contests held on courts No. 1, No. 3 and No. 6.

The defeat was Samford's first of the season at the Darwin C. Hardison Tennis Center and its only loss against a conference opponent of the 2005 campaign.

The Samford University men's tennis team will next be in action on Sunday as the Bulldogs travel to Hattiesburg, Miss., for a non-conference duel against the Southern Miss Golden Eagles. The women's team will take the weekend off from competition before squaring off against North Alabama in Florence, Ala., on Tuesday.

Men's Tennis Results

Samford (6-4, 2-0 OVC) def. Tennessee-Martin (2-1, 1-1 OVC), 6-1

Doubles
1. Manuel Miletic/Renan Silveira (SU) def. Gustavo Anzola/Adolfo Anzola (UTM), 8-3
2. Stuart Misner/Hank Grant (SU) def. Ben Hatchwell/Dirk Prinsloo (UTM), 8-4
3. Johnny Griffee/James Bryce (SU) def. Chris Slabbert/Danny McGuire (UTM), 8-3

Singles
1. Anzola (UTM) def. Miletic (SU), 2-6, 7-6(5), 6-1
2. Misner (SU) def. Prinsloo (UTM), 5-7, 6-4, 6-2
3. Brad Weaver (SU) def. Hatchwell (UTM), 6-1, 7-6(4)
4. Silveira (SU) def. McGuire (UTM), 6-3, 6-2
5. Grant (SU) def. Anzola (UTM), 6-1, 6-2
6. Griffee (SU) def. Slabbert (UTM), 6-1, 6-3

Women's Tennis Results

Tennessee-Martin (3-0, 2-0 OVC) def. Samford (4-3, 0-1 OVC), 6-1

Doubles
1. Emily White/Sarah McKey (SU) def. Kat Domela/Sari Nortje (UTM), 8-0
2. Jeanne deWet/Gayatri Ramesh (UTM) def. Katie Crawford/Bethany Benson (SU), 8-5
3. Elly Shearman/Elizma Schoonees (UTM) def. Katie McMiller/Christie Baker (SU), 8-1

Singles
1. Nortje (UTM) def. White (SU), 6-1, 6-1
2. Domela (UTM) def. McKey (SU), 6-3, 3-6, 6-1
3. McMiller (SU) def. deWet (UTM), 6-4, 6-1
4. Shearman (UTM) def. Benson (SU), 6-2, 6-1
5. Ramesh (UTM) def. Crawford (SU), 2-6, 7-6(4), 6-3
6. Schoonees (UTM) def. Baker (SU), 6-2, 6-1