BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Samford women's tennis team opened Southern Conference play with a 4-3 win over Mercer Friday afternoon at the Samford Tennis Center.
Samford set the tone early by sweeping all three doubles courts. The top pairing of Lea Erenda and Sara Erenda outlasted Marina D. Quinones and Ines Homberg, 7-5, to secure the win. Hailey Troup and Eleni Liakonis delivered a 6-4 win over Tea Zivic and Sofiya Tsitavets. The Bulldogs completed the sweep with a win from Laila Fishman and Cathy Cardona-Carballosa , the doubles duo posted a 6-3 victory against Antonia Schweigel and Maria Bannmeyer.
The match remained tight in singles play, with Samford ultimately earning three wins to clinch the team victory. Hailey Troup delivered a straight-set 6-2, 6-2 victory over Jelena Gojkovic. Cathy Cardona-Carballosa came through winning 6-4, 4-6, 6-1 against Ines Homberg. Laila Fishman overcame a first-set tiebreak loss to earn a 6-7, 6-4, 6-2 win over Maria Bannmeyer. The Bulldogs dropped three competitive matches, but their success in doubles and strong play proved decisive.
The win marks an important step for Samford in Southern Conference play, boosting momentum as the conference slate continues.
Bulldogs will be back at home Sunday, March 22nd to take on Western Carolina.
FOLLOW THE BULLDOGS:
For the latest news and information on Samford women's tennis, visit the official website for Samford Athletics at SamfordSports.com. Fans can also follow the Bulldogs on social media at /SamfordSports (Facebook), @SamfordWTennis (Twitter), and @Samfordwomenstennis (Instagram).
