Feb. 8, 2006

JACKSONVILLE, Ala. ---- The Samford University men's and women's tennis teams swept in-state rival Jacksonville State in a non-Ohio Valley Conferece match-up on Wednesday at the Jacksonville State Tennis Complex.

The Bulldog women won the match in a decisive fashion, claiming a 7-0 win over the Gamecocks. The Bulldogs started strong, winning all three doubles matches, before earning all six singles points.

On the No. 1 doubles court Emily White and Sarah McKey won 8-3 over Michelle Dushner and Erin Higgs. Katie McMiller and Anna Jackson claimed the No. 2 doubles match, defeating Layla Abby and Eloah Lopes 9-8, and Whitnie Warren and Christie Baker picked up an 8-5 win over Babette Lombardo and Marcia Barnes on the No. 3 court for the sweep.

In singles play, Jackson came from behind to claim a thrilling 6-7, 7-5, 10-8 victory over Dushner on the No. 1 court. McMiller won the No. 2 point, 6-2, 7-5, over Higgs and White earned a 6-2, 6-4 win over Lombardo on the No. 3 court.

Warren easily claimed the No. 4 point, defeating Abby, 6-1, 6-1. The Bulldogs came from behind on both the No. 5 and No. 6 courts to win three-set matches. McKey won the No. 5 point. 6-7, 6-1, 7-5, over Lopes and Amber Dyar won the No. 6 point, 3-6, 6-3, 6-1 over Barnes.

"It definitely showed that this was only our second match of the year," said Samford women's head coach Terri Sisk. "The one thing they showed their fight. Our doubles play wasn't as strong, but we were able to fight through it and pick up the wins. They played very well in singles play, but we definitely need to work on our doubles play."

On the men's side, Samford earned a hard-fought 4-3 victory over the Jacksonville State. The Bulldog men also started strong, claiming the important doubles point, as the two teams split the singles points.

Renan Silveira and Bradley Weaver defeated Bernado Bachino and Christian Rybertt 8-5 on the No. 1 doubles court. Stuart Misner and Hank Grant won the No. 2 doubles match, 8-4 over Scott Robertson and Diego Pazsoldan. Johnny Griffee and James Bryce rounded out the sweep with an 8-5 win over Joey Unkenholz and Jean Vaccarin on the No. 3 court.

Manuel Miletic defeated Christian Rybertt 6-3, 6-7, 6-3 for the No. 3 point, and Grant won, 6-1, 4-6, 6-3, over Joey Unkenholz on the No. 4 court. Johnny Griffee claimed a 6-3, 6-2 win over Diego Pazsoldan for the No. 6 point.

The Samford University men's and women's tennis teams return to action on Friday, when they take on AUM at 2 p.m. at the Lakeshore Foundation.


Women's Results
Samford 7, Jacksonville State 0
Doubles
No. 1 Emily White/Sarah McKey (SAM) def. Michelle Dushner/Erin Higgs (JSU) 8-3
No. 2 Katie McMiller/Anna Jackson (SAM) def. Layla Abby/Eloah Lopes (JSU) 9-8
No. 3 Whitnie Warren/Christie Baker (SAM) def. Babette Lombardo/Marcia Barnes (JSU) 8-5

Singles
No. 1 Anna Jackson (SAM) def. Michelle Dushner (JSU) 6-7, 7-5, 10-8
No. 2 Katie McMiller (SAM) def. Erin Higgs (JSU) 6-2, 7-5
No. 3 Emily White (SAM) def. Babette Lombardo (JSU) 6-1, 6-4
No. 4 Whitnie Warren (SAM) def. Layla Abby (JSU) 6-1, 6-1
No. 5 Sarah McKey (SAM) def. Eloah Lopes (JSU) 6-7, 6-1, 7-5
No. 6 Amber Dyar (SAM) def. Marcia Barnes (JSU) 3-6, 6-3, 6-1


Men's Results
Samford 4, Jacksonville State 3
Doubles
No. 1 Renan Silveira/Brad Weaver (SAM) def. Bernado Bachino/Christian Rybertt (JSU) 8-5M
No. 2 Stuart Misner/Hank Grant (SAM) def. Scott Robertson/Diego Pazsoldan (JSU) 8-4
No. 3 Johnny Griffee/James Bryce (SAM) def. Joey Unkenholz/Jean Vaccarin (JSU) 8-5

Singles
No. 1 Scott Robertson (JSU) def. Stuart Misner (SAM) 3-6, 6-4, 6-2
No. 2 Bernado Bachino (JSU) def. Renan Silveira (SAM) 6-3, 0-6, 6-4
No. 3 Manuel Miletic (SAM) def. Christian Rybertt (JSU) 6-3, 6-7, 6-3
No. 4 Hank Grant (SAM) def. Joey Unkenholz (JSU) 6-1, 4-6, 6-3
No. 5 Jean Vaccarin (JSU) def. Bradley Weaver (SAM) 7-5, 7-6
No. 6 Johnny Griffee (SAM) def. Diego Pazsoldan (JSU) 6-3, 6-2