Samford University
ELON
Shorthanded Bulldogs Lose SoCon Opener Against Elon, 7-0
3.6.09 | Women's Tennis
March 6, 2009
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Without the services of injured starters Rebecca Kirven and Lindsey Mallory, the Samford women's tennis team dropped a 7-0 decision to the Elon Phoenix on Friday in the Bulldogs' inaugural Southern Conference match held at the Samford Tennis Center.
With the loss, Samford (2-4, 0-1 SoCon) fell to 2-3 when playing at home this season. It was only the second time all year that the Bulldogs were swept 7-0. The first time occurred Feb. 22 against No. 65 Alabama.
Elon (6-6, 1-1 SoCon) earned its second-straight win and picked up its first conference victory of the 2009 campaign. The Phoenix's 7-0 triumph was its fourth sweep of the season.
Despite competing without two of its top four players Friday, Samford nearly won the doubles point. On court No. 2, the Bulldogs' doubles combination of Jessica Diamond and Andrie Meiring cruised past Elon's duo of Elisa Simonetti and Daleen Kloppers, 8-3.
Samford, with only five healthy players on its roster, was then forced to surrender the match on court No. 3, but the Bulldogs' No. 1 doubles pair of Taylor Morgan and Stephanie Parkison nearly pulled off the upset win against the Phoenix's Anna Milian and Paige Kensrue, 9-8 (5).
In singles play, Elon earned straight-set victories on every court except No. 4. In the No. 4 singles competition, Diamond cruised to a 6-1 win in the first set before the Phoenix's Melissa Wolf rallied for 6-2 and 7-5 victories in the next two rounds.
The Samford University women's tennis team will next be in action Monday at 1 p.m., as the Bulldogs host the Marquette Golden Eagles in a high-profile non-conference matchup to be held at the Samford Tennis Center.
