Jan. 27, 2012

Results

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford University women's tennis team opened its 2012 dual-match season in dramatic fashion Friday as the Bulldogs registered a thrilling 4-3 victory against the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders in a non-conference showdown held at the Samford Tennis Complex.

With the score of the match deadlocked at 3-3, Samford (1-0) turned its attention to court No. 2 where the Bulldogs' Madelie Janse Van Rensburg outlasted the Blue Raiders' Yuiri Nomoto, 6-4, 4-6, 6-2. Janse Van Rensburg's match-clinching singles win secured the victory for Samford.

The Bulldogs also received singles triumphs Friday from Kristin Lewis on court No. 1, 6-3, 6-1, and Emily Mallory in the No. 6 matchup over Middle Tennessee's Marietta Bigus, 7-5, 6-1.

Middle Tennessee (0-1) recorded a trio of singles wins from Flavia Nagayama, Lexi Brand and Nayara Moraes. The Blue Raiders' victories occurred on courts No. 3, 4 and 5.

Samford jumped out to an early 1-0 lead Friday by winning two of the three doubles matches. On court No. 1, the Bulldogs' combination of Lindsey Mallory and Lewis defeated Middle Tennessee's tandem comprised of Moraes and Nava, 8-4. Samford also received a doubles victory in the No. 2 matchup as Rebecca Kirven and Janse Van Rensburg defeated the Blue Raiders' duo of Bigus and Brand, 8-4.

With Friday's victory, the Bulldogs pulled even in their all-time series against Middle Tennessee, 3-3.

The Samford University women's tennis team will next be in action Saturday at 1 p.m. (CDT) as the Bulldogs continue their five-match homestand versus the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns in another non-conference duel to be held at the Samford Tennis Center.