April 11, 2012

Results

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford University women's tennis team extended its winning streak to four-consecutive matches Wednesday as the Bulldogs earned a decisive 6-1 non-conference triumph against the Troy Trojans in an in-state rivalry contest held at the Samford Tennis Center.

With Wednesday's win, Samford (14-5) closed out its regular-season schedule with an unblemished 6-0 record against regional opponents. The Bulldogs, who are members of the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's Southern Region, tallied dual-match victories this year over Louisiana-Lafayette 6-1, Jacksonville State 7-0, South Alabama 4-0, Southern Miss 7-0, UAB 7-0 and Troy (10-7), 6-1.

Samford's victory against the Trojans on Wednesday also marked its fourth-straight win, which also featured triumphs over Wofford 5-1, Davidson 6-1 and Appalachian State 4-3.

The Bulldogs improved to 10-3 at home this season by winning the all-important doubles point and then received quick straight-set victories in singles play from Madelie Janse Van Rensburg, Stephanie N'tcha, Rebecca Kirven, Lindsey Mallory and Jessica Diamond. With its five wins in singles play, Samford secured the lopsided 6-1 team victory.

In Wednesday's doubles competition, the Bulldogs were victorious on courts Nos. 1 and 2. Samford's tandem comprised of Lewis and Lindsey Mallory knocked off the nation's 89th-ranked duo of Lyubov Dorofeeva and Karoline Grymel, 9-7, in the No. 1 doubles contest. The win was the Bulldogs' first doubles triumph against a ranked opponent this season as Lewis and Mallory improved to 15-4 in 2012.

On court No. 2, Samford's pairing of Kirven and Janse Van Rensburg held off Troy's feisty combination of Gabrielle Veiga and Samya El Hsissen, 8-6. With the victory, the Bulldogs' tandem earned their seventh-straight win and improved to 13-5 on the season.

Samford's Kirven also extended her winning streak to four-consecutive matches in singles play Wednesday as she tallied a 6-2, 6-3 triumph on court No. 4. The Bulldogs' senior from Windermere, Fla., moved her record on the season to 11-6 with the victory.

N'tcha, Samford's true freshman from Abomey-Calavi, Benin, notched her third-straight win Wednesday as she rolled to a 6-4, 6-0 triumph on court No. 4. She also improved her dual-match record to 11-6 with the victory.

The Bulldogs' Janse Van Rensburg and Diamond both won by retirement against their Troy counterparts, while Lindsey Mallory knocked off the Trojans' El Hsissen on court No. 5, 6-3, 6-0. With her straight-set win, Samford's native of Louisville, Ky., moved her record this season to 12-5.

The Samford University women's tennis team will next be in action Saturday at noon (CDT) as the Bulldogs close out their 2012 regular-season schedule with a SoCon contest against the Chattanooga Lady Mocs to be held at the Samford Tennis Center.