Feb. 8, 2012

Results

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford University women's tennis team extended its season-opening winning streak to four consecutive matches Wednesday as the Bulldogs cruised to a 7-0 triumph against the Jacksonville State Gamecocks in an in-state contest held at the Samford Tennis Center.

With the victory, Samford (4-0) also extended its home winning streak to nine straight matches. The Bulldogs have not been defeated at the Samford Tennis Center since a hard-fought 4-3 setback against Furman on March 27, 2011.

On Wednesday, Samford breezed through doubles play with quick victories on all three courts. The Bulldogs' duo comprised of Kristin Lewis and Lindsey Mallory tallied an 8-2 victory in the No. 1 doubles matchup, while Madelie Janse Van Rensburg and Stephanie N'tcha swept Jacksonville State's tandem of Rafaela Wenzel and Zoe Izinos, 8-0 on court No. 2.

In the No. 3 doubles match, Samford's pairing of Emily Mallory and Jessica Diamond also registered an 8-0 sweep as they blanked the Gamecocks' doubles team comprised of Aleksandra Cmilijic and Kelly Tomlin.

Jacksonville State (1-2) suffered its second straight loss Wednesday. After opening the 2012 season with a 4-3 victory at William Carey University, the Gamecocks dropped a 4-3 decision against Southern Miss on Sunday.

In Wednesday's singles competition, Samford cruised to straight-set victories on all six courts. Janse Van Rensburg, the Bulldogs' senior native of Franschhoek, South Africa, improved to 4-0 this season with a 6-2, 7-5 win against Jacksonville State's Raisa Guasti on court No. 2.

Samford's Lewis moved to 3-1 in singles play this season with a 6-1, 6-1 triumph on court No. 1, while Lindsey Mallory defeated Kelly Tomlin, 6-0, 6-0, in the No. 5 matchup. The Bulldogs' N'tcha knocked off Wenzel on court No.3, 6-3, 6-2, as senior Rebecca Kirven topped Izinos in the No. 4 singles contest, 6-4, 6-1.

True freshman Adri Lochner picked up her first Samford singles victory Wednesday by breezing by Cmilijic, 6-4, 6-0, on court No. 6.

The Samford University women's tennis team will next be in action Saturday at 3 p.m. (CST) as the Bulldogs conclude their season-opening, five-match homestand against the South Alabama Jaguars at the Samford Tennis Center.