Feb. 17, 2012

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford University women's tennis team will play its sixth consecutive match at home Saturday as the Bulldogs welcome the Southern Miss Golden Eagles to the Samford Tennis Center for a key non-conference contest beginning at 11 a.m. (CST).

The match was originally slated to be played Friday at 3 p.m., in Hattiesburg, Miss., but was changed due to the forecast of an incessant rainstorm in the area. Southern Miss's home facility does not include shelter from the weather, while the Bulldogs' state-of-the art Pat M. Courington Tennis Pavilion boasts three indoor courts.

Samford (5-0) heads into Saturday's contest in the midst of a 10-match winning streak at home. The Bulldogs have already compiled a perfect 5-0 mark at the Samford Tennis Center this season and have not been defeated at home since a hard-fought 4-3 setback versus Furman on March 27, 2011.

The Bulldogs' victories this season have come against Middle Tennessee 4-3, Louisiana-Lafayette 6-1, Austin Peay 6-1, Jacksonville State 7-0 and South Alabama 4-0.

In Samford's most recent win against South Alabama on Feb. 11, the Bulldogs jumped out to an early 1-0 lead by taking the all-important doubles point.

Samford's No. 1 doubles combination of Kristin Lewis and Lindsey Mallory tallied an 8-5 victory over South Alabama's duo comprised of Emily Newton and Alina Volman, while the Bulldogs' team of Rebecca Kirven and Madelie Janse Van Rensburg also proved to be victorious 8-3 win on court No. 2.

While playing in cold and windy conditions at the Samford Tennis Center, the Bulldogs earned three quick victories in singles play to secure the 4-0 triumph over South Alabama.

On court No. 1, Samford's Lewis breezed to a 6-3, 6-3 win, while Janse Van Rensburg held on for a 7-6(4), 6-4 victory in the No. 2 singles matchup. The Bulldogs also received a straight-set win on court No. 3 as Stephanie N'tcha topped the Jaguars' Mariya Krachok, 6-1, 6-2.

Samford's Janse Van Rensburg improved to a perfect 5-0 in singles play, while Lewis moved to 4-1 on court No. 1 this season and N'tcha increased her record to 3-2.

The Bulldogs' Janse Van Rensburg has played a key role in the team's early success this season. Samford has opened the 2012 campaign with an unblemished 5-0 record and Janse Van Rensburg has duplicated that success with an identical 5-0 record in singles play. Three of her five singles wins have occurred in straight sets at the ever-difficult No. 2 position.

In doubles play, Samford's senior native of Franschhoek, South Africa, has earned a 3-1 record when teaming with Kirven on court No. 2. She also paired with teammate N'tcha to tally an 8-0 victory against Jacksonville State on Feb. 8.

Southern Miss (1-3) enters Saturday's contest with aspirations of snapping its current two-match losing streak. Since rallying for a 4-3 home victory against Jacksonville State on Feb. 5, the Golden Eagles have suffered back-to-back losses to Arkansas-Little Rock, 4-3, and Southeastern Louisiana, 4-3.

In Southern Miss' hard-fought setback against Southeastern Louisiana, the Lions captured the doubles point for the 1-0 lead as Adriana Castillo and Laura Verges opened the doubles with an 8-4 win over Kate Lanier and Alex Bradley at No. 2. The Golden Eagles came back for the 8-5 win at No. 1 when Elja van Berlo and Alexus Coats knocked off Morgane Charpenne and Morgane Dadot.

The two teams then battled at No. 3 as Southeastern Louisiana came away with a 9-7 win when Audrey Chelini and Marion Courbis outlasted Moorea Williams and Mackenzie Oskin, 9-7.

The Lions carried their momentum into singles' play and quickly took a 2-0 lead when Chelini got a win after Coats could not finish the match with Chelini leading 3-0 in the first set. Southeastern Louisiana pushed the lead to 3-0 when Charpenne defeated Frances Askew at No. 5, 6-0, 6-1.

Southern Miss earned its first point at No. 3 when Lanier posted a 6-3, 6-0 win over Castillo. Dadot then clinched the match with a 6-3, 6-1, win at No. 4 over Oskin. Van Berlo topped Verges 6-4, 7-6 (3) at No. 2 and Southern Miss concluded the match with Bradley taking a win at No. 6 against Courbis, 6-2, 6-7 (7), 1-0 (12-10).

Following Saturday's home match against Southern Miss, the Samford University women's tennis team will next be in action Wednesday at 2 p.m. (CST) as the Bulldogs continue their season-opening, eight-match homestand with a cross-town showdown against the UAB Blazers to be held at the Samford Tennis Center.