Feb. 24, 2012

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford University women's tennis team will conclude play in its season-opening, eight-match homestand Saturday at 1 p.m. (CST) as the Bulldogs welcome the UTSA Roadrunners to the Samford Tennis Center for a pivotal non-conference contest.

Samford (7-0) heads into the showdown in the midst of a 12-match home winning streak. The Bulldogs have been victorious in seven straight meetings at home this season and have not been defeated at the Samford Tennis Center since dropping a hard-fought 4-3 decision to Furman on March 27, 2011.

Already this year, Samford has tallied non-conference victories against Middle Tennessee 4-3, Louisiana-Lafayette 6-1, Austin Peay 6-1, Jacksonville State 7-0, South Alabama 4-0, Southern Miss 7-0 and UAB 7-0.

On Wednesday, the Bulldogs extended their winning streak to seven-consecutive matches by defeating UAB, 7-0, in a cross-town rivalry held at the Samford Tennis Center.

Samford has outscored its opponents by a total of 41-5 this season and has not allowed an adversary to score a point since defeating Austin Peay, 6-1, on Feb. 3.

Against UAB, the Bulldogs were victorious in two of the three doubles courts and won the doubles point to take an early 1-0 lead.

In the No. 1 doubles matchup, Samford's tandem comprised of Kristen Lewis and Lindsey Mallory defeated UAB's combination of Paula Alvarez and Isabel Fernandez, 8-6. With the win, the Bulldogs' duo of Lewis and Mallory remained undefeated in double play this season and improved to 7-0 at court No. 1.

Samford was also victorious on court No. 2 as Rebecca Kirven and Madelie Janse Van Rensburg toppled the Blazers' pairing of Rachel Daniell and Menanteau Moolman, 8-6. The Bulldogs' Kirven and Janse Van Rensburg moved to 5-1 in doubles play with the win.

In singles play, Samford swept the top five courts and won court on No. 6 by default. Due to injuries, UAB only had five healthy competitors Wednesday.

The Bulldogs' Lewis, Janse Van Rensburg and Kirven were all triumphant in straight sets against their Blazer counterparts, while Stephanie N'tcha and Lindsey Mallory outlasted their opponents in three-set battles.

Samford's Janse Van Rensburg extended her winning streak in singles play to seven-consecutive matches Wednesday and improved to 7-0 on the season. Senior Lindsey Mallory and true freshman N'tcha both extended their winning streaks to five-straight matches, while Kirven and Lewis have each won four-consecutive singles contests.

UTSA (4-1) is coming off a 4-1 victory against UTEP on Sunday. The Roadrunners dropped the doubles point but rallied with four consecutive singles wins to clinch the match.

Sophomore Isabelle Jonsson leads the Roadrunners with a 4-1 mark in singles action, while she and senior Stefanie Peana comprise the top doubles pair with wins in four of their five tilts this spring.

Following Saturday's home contest against UTSA, Samford will next be in action March 6 at 2 p.m. (CST) as the Bulldogs hit the road for the first time this season versus the Georgia State Panthers in a critical non-conference contest to be held at the Sharon Lester Tennis Center at Piedmont Park.