BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Samford University women's tennis team will begin play in its 2013 dual-match season Saturday as the Bulldogs welcome the Austin Peay Lady Govs to the Samford Tennis Complex for a nonconference matchup slated to begin at 10 a.m. (CST).
 
Samford heads into Saturday's season-opening contest boasting an extremely young, yet talented roster. The 2013 Bulldogs consist of two juniors, three sophomores and four true freshmen.
 
Heading into the 2013 dual-match season, Samford's junior class consists of Kristin Lewis and Emily Mallory, while the Bulldogs' sophomores include Adri Lochner, AnnMarie Lochner and Stephanie N'tcha.
 
Additionally, Samford's 2012-13 true freshmen include highly-touted recruits Lauren Caballero, Carita Moolman, Sarah Gail Niebur and Jessica Northcutt.
 
Last season, the Bulldogs compiled a stellar 15-6 overall record and a 6-4 mark in Southern Conference play. Samford concluded the 2012 campaign with an undefeated 6-0 record against Southeast Region opponents and registered an 11-3 mark at home in the Samford Tennis Complex.
 
Austin Peay will also be competing in its first dual match of the 2013 season Saturday. The Lady Govs are coming off a 2012 season in which they finished the year with a 9-15 overall record, as well as a solid 5-4 mark in Ohio Valley Conference play.
 
The 2013 Austin Peay roster consists of junior Andra Cornea and sophomores Julie Covington, Ornella Di Salvo, Jovana Korac, Alison Carre and Vanessa Tavares.
 
Last season, Samford and Austin Peay squared off at the Samford Tennis Complex on Feb. 3, and the Bulldogs registered a 6-1 victory.
 
In Samford's home win over the Govs last year, the Bulldogs swept the doubles point and then received straight-set singles wins from Madelie Janse Van Rensburg, N'tcha, Rebecca Kirven, Lindsey Mallory and Emily Mallory.
 
Janse Van Rensburg, the Bulldogs' senior from Franschhoek, South Africa, tallied a 6-2, 7-5 victory in the No. 2 singles matchup, while true freshman N'tcha breezed by the Lady Govs' Di Salvo, 6-3, 6-1, on court No. 3.
 
Samford's Kirven was victorious in the No. 4 singles matchup, while the Bulldogs' Lindsey Mallory and Emily Mallory earned 6-1, 6-0, and 6-0, 6-2 wins on courts No. 5 and No. 6, respectively.
 
Following Saturday's season-opening contest against Austin Peay, the Samford University women's tennis team will next be in action Feb. 2, as the Bulldogs are slated to host a nonconference doubleheader against Kennesaw State and Mercer. Samford is scheduled to face Kennesaw State at 10 a.m., and Mercer at 4 p.m. Both matches will be held at the Samford Tennis Complex.