Samford University
Eastern Illinois
Samford Women's Tennis Defeats Eastern Illinois, 4-3
3.16.07 | Women's Tennis
March 16, 2007
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ---- The Samford women's tennis team is still undefeated in conference play after a comeback victory against OVC for Eastern Illinois. After being down three games to none, the Bulldogs again went on a 4-0 run to claim their seventh season win, their fifth win in OVC play.
Due to the weather, the matches for both the Samford teams were moved indoors. This would turn out to be a test of Samford's will as the Eastern Illinois teams train and play indoor all the time.
"It is never fun to play decent teams that train and play indoors year round," Samford head coach Terri Sisk said. "We knew we were in for a battle with them since we had to move our match inside."
The Bulldog women found themselves in a familiar situation last Saturday as the Panthers took the early 3-0 lead. The Racers of Murray State did the same thing in last Saturday match. However, Samford's intensity kicked in once again in the third singles match to set off a 4-0 run to lead the Bulldogs to a victory.
"We came out a little tentative in doubles and didn't take advantage of some important breaks early in the match," said Sisk, "but overall our singles once again stepped up and pulled out the win for us. The intensity the girls brought to the match when we were 3-0 down was impressive. Their desire to win is truly unbelievable this year and once again they showed it."
Doubles teams White/McKey and Jackson/Warren lost their matches in the first two court, and although Katie McMiller and Christie Baker were able to win in the third court, the Panthers claimed the doubles point.
Eastern Illinois also took the first two singles matches as Anna Jackson and Katie McMiller were defeated, but once again Emily White sparked the 4-0 run for the Bulldogs that would take them to the top. Sarah McKey played a tough match in the No. 5 singles court, finally defeating her opponent, 6-4, 7-6 (14).
The Samford women will have the weekend off to begin preparing for their first conference road matches next weekend. The Bulldogs will face Eastern Kentucky on Saturday, March 24, and Morehead State, March 25. The times of those matches are still to be determined. Check www.samfordsports.com later in the week to find those times listed. A recap and results of next weekend's conference action will also be available on the website.
Samford 4, Eastern Illinois 3
Doubles
No. 1 Martin/Homburg (EIU) def. White/McKey (SU), 8-4
No. 2 Sasiddharan/Mambetova (EIU) def. Jackson/Warren (SU), 8-4
No. 3 McMiller/Baker (EIU) def. Lininger/Harmazy (SU), 8-2
Singles
No. 1 Sandra Sasidharan (EIU) def. Anna Jackson (SU), 6-2, 6-2
No. 2 Natalie Martin (EIU) def. Katie McMiller (SU), 6-0, 6-2
No. 3 Emily White (SU) def. Madina Mambetova (EIU), 6-2, 6-3
No. 4 Whitnie Warren (SU) def. Stephanie Harmazy (EIU), 6-0, 6-4
No. 5 Sarah McKey (SU) def. Hayley Homburg (EIU), 6-4, 7-6 (14)
No. 6 Bethany Benson (SU) def. Annie Munch (EIU), 6-0, 6-0
