BOX SCORE (PDF)

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Samford women's tennis team dropped a 7-0 decision to the South Alabama Jaguars Saturday afternoon at the Samford Tennis Complex.
 
"Obviously, today was a tough day for us," Samford head coach David Vest said. "South Alabama always has a strong team, and this year is no exception.  They do a lot of the little things that we as a young team need to be working on ourselves.  They were simply more disciplined in the doubles than us, and just tougher mentally."
The loss ends Samford's four-match win streak and drops the Bulldogs' overall record to 4-2. South Alabama improves to 4-1 with the win.
 
"As has been the case all season, our energy and competitiveness were exactly what I was looking for," Vest said. "However, we still have a lot of room for improvement when it comes to attitude, how we carry ourselves throughout the match, and overall, just focusing on what we can control and forgetting about what we can't."
USA took the doubles point with wins on the No. 1 and No. 3 courts. At No. 1, Patricia Martins and Laura Valkova defeated Annika Hepp and Ellie Gerlach, 6-0. On the No. 3 court, Monica Mitta and Laura Matuskova earned a 6-0 win over Elsa Pool and Grace Jennings. The No. 2 doubles match was not finished.
 
In singles, South Alabama earned wins in all six matches. At No. 6 singles, Hepp took Alina Zolotareva to a third set, falling in a hard-fought 7-5, 3-6, 10-7 match.
 
Samford will return to action on Wednesday, Feb. 15, when the Bulldogs host Jacksonville State. The match is set to begin at 12 p.m. at the Samford Tennis Complex.
 
"We will have to move on from today's loss, and get ready for a much improved Jacksonville State team on Wednesday," Vest said.
South Alabama 7, Samford 0
Singles
1. Stiteler, Alexandria (USA) def. Savannah Wood (SAM-W) 6-0, 6-3
2. Mitta, Monica (USA) def. Ellie Gerlach (SAM-W) 6-3, 6-4
3. Valkova, Laura (USA) def. Elsa Pool (SAM-W) 6-2, 6-2
4. Matuskova, Laura (USA) def. Nadine de Villiers (SAM-W) 6-3, 6-3
5. Martins, Patricia (USA) def. Arianna Beltrame (SAM-W) 6-3, 7-5
6. Zolotareva, Alina (USA) def. Annika Hepp (SAM-W) 7-5, 3-6, 10-7
 
Doubles
1. Martins, Patricia/Valkova, Laura (USA) def. Annika Hepp/Ellie Gerlach (SAM-W) 6-0
2. Savannah Wood/Arianna Beltrame (SAM-W) vs. Zolotareva, Alina/Stiteler, Alexandria (USA) 4-4, unfinished
3. Mitta, Monica/Matuskova, Laura (USA) def. Elsa Pool/Grace Jennings (SAM-W) 6-0