March 27, 2010

Results

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford University women's tennis team handed the Furman Lady Paladins their first Southern Conference regular-season loss in over 11 years Saturday as the Bulldogs fought to a 6-1 triumph at the Samford Tennis Center. The defeat snapped Furman's 100-match SoCon winning streak in regular-season play.

In Saturday's momentous victory, Samford (10-5, 2-1 SoCon) won the doubles points and received key singles wins from Andrie Meiring, Madelie Janse Van Rensburg, Stephanie Parkison, Rebecca Kirven and Lindsey Mallory. The triumph also improved the Bulldogs' record at home this season to 8-2.

With the loss, Furman (9-6, 2-1 SoCon) had its six-match winning streak snapped. The Lady Paladins' most recent defeat occurred against six-ranked Duke on Feb. 21.

Furman has been the perennial champions of the SoCon since the 1990s and has earned the previous 10 regular-season titles. The 2010 campaign marks Samford's second season as a member of the prestigious conference.

The Bulldogs earned Saturday's doubles point with victories on courts No. 1 and No. 2. In the No. 1 matchup, Samford's combination of Mallory and Morgan topped Furman's Jessica Preeg and Lauren Kline, 8-5, while the Bulldogs' duo of Kirven and Meiring rallied for a 9-7 win in the No. 2 doubles matchup.

In singles play, Samford earned victories on courts No. 2 - No. 6. The Bulldogs' Meiring, Janse van Rensburg and Mallory all tallied straight-set wins; while Parkison and Kirven outlasted their Lady Paladin counterparts in clutch three-set matches.

The clinching point in Saturday's triumph occurred at the No. 6 position where Samford's Mallory earned a 6-2, 6-3 victory against Furman's Jennifer Betts. With the win, Mallory improved to 9-5 in singles play this season.

The Samford women's tennis team will next be in action Sunday as the Bulldogs continue their brief two-match homestand against the Wofford Terriers in another key SoCon duel.