Feb. 10, 2009

Results

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford University women's tennis team dropped a hard-fought 4-2 decision against the Memphis Tigers on Tuesday in a marathon six-hour match held at the Pat M. Courington Tennis Pavilion. The contest was the Bulldogs' first dual match of the 2009 campaign.

In Tuesday's season opener, Samford (0-1) received both of its points in singles play as Taylor Morgan and Shannon Hartmann each tallied victories against their Tiger counterparts.

Morgan, the Bulldogs' talented sophomore from Jacksonville, Fla., cruised to a straight-set victory over Marjorie Ondeck on court No. 1, 6-3, 6-2, while Hartmann outlasted Dara Toulch in the No. 4 singles match. Hartmann, a junior from Lexington, Ky., dropped the first set, 6-4, but then rallied to win the final two sets, 6-3, 6-1.

The deciding singles match of Tuesday's lengthy duel occurred on court No. 5.

At the time, Memphis (4-1) led the overall score of the contest, 3-2, but Samford's Jessica Diamond held a first-set advantage in the No. 6 singles competition 6-2, and looked as if she would later win her match.

In the pivotal singles contest held on court No. 5, Memphis' Robyn Jones won the first set over Stephanie Parkison 6-3, but Samford's junior from Clarkston, Mich., fought back to win the second set 6-3. The third set proved to be the deciding factor in Tuesday's contest and neither competitor backed down.

Samford's Parkison and Memphis' Jones battled to a third-set tiebreaker and the Tigers' freshman from Baton Rouge, La., was able to hold on for a 7-6 (3) decision.

The Samford University women's tennis team will next be in action Friday at 3 p.m., as the Bulldogs welcome the Georgia State Panthers to the Pat M. Courington Tennis Pavilion for another home non-conference matchup.

Memphis 4, Samford 2

DOUBLES
1. Ashley Murdock/Sarah Irvin (MEM) def. Andrie Meiring/Rebecca Kirven (SAM), 8-5
2. Marjorie Ondeck/Robyn Jones (MEM) def. Shannon Hartmann/Jessica Diamond (SAM), 9-7
3. Taylor Morgan/Stephanie Parkison (SAM) def. Lindsey Wiseman/Amanda Brown (MEM), 8-5

SINGLES
1. Taylor Morgan (SAM) def. Marjorie Ondeck (MEM), 6-3, 6-2
2. Ashley Murdock (MEM) def. Andrie Meiring (SAM), 6-2, 2-6, 6-4
3. Sarah Irvin (MEM) def. Rebecca Kirven (SAM), 6-2, 6-0
4. Shannon Hartmann (SAM) def. Dara Toulch (MEM), 4-6, 6-3, 6-1
5. Robyn Jones (MEM) def. Stephanie Parkison (SAM), 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(3)
6. Jessica Diamond (SAM) led Amanda Brown (MEM), 6-2, 4-4, when play was stopped

Match Results