BOX SCORE

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – The fourth-seeded Samford women's tennis team fell to second-seeded ETSU, 4-0, in the title match of the Southern Conference Tournament Sunday afternoon at Chattanooga's Champions Club.
 
"We just ran into a team that, match-up wise, knew exactly what they needed to do to take it to us," Samford head coach David Vest said. "I think they used the fact that they lost in the finals last year to us as motivation all season long. They should be commended, they played exactly the way they needed to play to beat us."
 
The Bulldogs had battled throughout the weekend to reach the finals of the tournament for the third-straight season. The team swept fifth-seeded Wofford, 4-0 on Friday, and then earned a dramatic 4-3 win over top-seeded Furman in Saturday semifinal round.
 
"We had a good week of practice and we had a good tournament," Vest said. "I couldn't be more proud of the girls. We dug deep yesterday when we weren't expected to as the underdog. We really found ways to win."
 
ETSU started the match strong by taking the doubles point in two-straight matches. The Bucs won at No. 2 and No. 3 doubles, both by scores of 6-3 to take the 1-0 lead.
 
ETSU's Lyn Yee Choo, who was named the tournament's MVP, earned a 6-0, 6-1 win at No. 1 singles over Jessica Northcutt to make the score 2-0. At No. 6 singles, ETSU's Ana Gerbasi defeated Georgina Jupp, 6-1, 6-4, to push the Bucs' lead to 3-0. ETSU secured the win when Ioanna Markesini defeated Savannah Wood, 6-3, 6-3 on the No. 3 court.
 
The loss ends the Samford careers of two seniors, Nortcutt and Carita Moolman. Vest said the pair has meant a lot to the Samford women's tennis program.
 
"I've coached at three different schools, but I've never had a team that made the finals three-straight years, and they are a huge part of that," Vest said. "Those three years mean a lot to me, because they came in here as freshmen, worked extremely hard and they've done so for four years. That hard work has rewarded us with having a chance on the last day of the tournament the last three years to win a championship for our school and earn a berth to the NCAA Tournament for the team. It was three good years, but two great seniors."
 
Samford ends its season with a record of 12-12. ETSU improves to 20-2 and earns the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
 
East Tennessee State 4, Samford 0
 
Singles competition
1. Lyn Yee Choo (ETSU) def. Jessica Northcutt (SAM-W) 6-0, 6-1
2. Regina Nychytailova (ETSU) vs. Carita Moolman (SAM-W) 6-1, 5-3, unfinished
3. Ioanna Markesini (ETSU) def. Savannah Wood (SAM-W) 6-3, 6-3
4. Marina Espana (ETSU) vs. Ellie Gerlach (SAM-W) 6-2, 4-1, unfinished
5. Melissa Esguerra (ETSU) vs. Annika Hepp (SAM-W) 3-6, 6-1, unfinished
6. Ana Gerbasi (ETSU) def. Georgina Jupp (SAM-W) 6-2, 6-4
 
Doubles competition
1. Lyn Yee Choo/Ana Gerbasi (ETSU) vs. Jessica Northcutt/Carita Moolman (SAM-W) 5-3, unfinished
2. Marina Espana/Ioanna Markesini (ETSU) def. Ellie Gerlach/Annika Hepp (SAM-W) 6-3
3. Regina Nychytailova/Melissa Esguerra (ETSU) def. Savannah Wood/Georgina Jupp (SAM-W) 6-3