March 10, 2007

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ---- The Samford women's tennis team pulled out a close win Saturday over the Murray State Racers. After falling to No. 69-ranked Troy on Thursday, the Bulldogs bounced back Sunday to defeat Murray State, 4-3, and improve to 5-2 (4-0 OVC).

The Racers jumped out with the early lead, taking the doubles point in a 3-0 sweep. However, the Bulldogs were not ready to give up as they fought back and stepped up their game to win four straight singles matches. Anna Jackson and Katie McMiller dropped the first two singles matches, but the Bulldogs bounced back and Emily White, Whitnie Warren, Sarah McKey and Bethany Benson took the last four matches.

"If there was a college match that was a dog fight, this one was it," Samford head coach Terri Sisk said. "I am extremely proud of how we rebounded after losing the doubles point.

It is never fun going into a match down one to a team as good as Murray State, knowing that your singles needs to be flawless. But the girls were ready and they stepped up when we needed them to."

The Samford men and women will get back to non-conference play Sunday afternoon as they take on the men and women from Mercer. Match play begins at 2 p.m.

Samford 4, Murray State 3

Doubles

No. 1 A. Lask/R. Lask (MSU) def. White/McKey (SU), 8-5

No. 2 Pruitt/Ottosen (MSU) def. Warren/Jackson (SU), 8-7 (3)

No. 3 Bochenek/McGahee (MSU) def. McMiller/Baker (SU), 8-5

Singles

No. 1 Anna Lask (MSU) def. Anna Jackson (SU), 6-4, 6-2

No. 2 Rachel Lask (MSU) def. Katie McMiller (SU), 7-5, 6-7 (4), 7-6 (3)

No. 3 Emily White (SU) def. Casady Pruitt (MSU), 6-2, 6-4

No. 4 Whitnie Warren (SU) def. Angela McGahee (MSU), 0-6, 7-6 (6), 6-2

No. 5 Sarah McKey (SU) def. Lynsey Bochenek (MSU), 6-3, 7-5

No. 6 Bethany Benson (SU) def. Lyndsay Ottosen (MSU), 6-1, 6-3