Results
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Samford won five of six singles matches, including the final three after a 2-2 tie, to defeat the University of South Alabama women's tennis team 5-2 Friday afternoon at the Samford Tennis Center.
The loss snaps USA's eight-match win streak to begin the season and drops the Jaguars to 8-1. The Bulldogs win their sixth in a row and move to 8-1.
"There were two good teams going at it today and all credit goes to Samford for getting the better of us," USA head coach
Jaco Keyser said. "We will have to very efficiently process this one tonight and get ready for a tough UAB team in the morning."
Samford took the first two singles matches after dropping the doubles point.
Stephanie N'tcha defeated sophomore
Michaela Meszarosova (Bratislava, Slovakia) 6-4, 6-4 at No. 1 and
Yasmeen Ebada topped freshman
Monica Mitta (Fairhope, Ala.) 6-3, 6-3 at No. 3 for Mitta's first loss of the spring season (8-1).
Jaguar freshman
Laura Valkova (Piestany, Slovakia) stayed undefeated in singles this spring at 9-0 with a 6-4, 6-2 victory over
Kristin Lewis on the No. 2 court to even the match 2-2, but the Bulldogs claimed the final three matches of the day—two in straight sets—for the final margin.
Jessica Northcutt won 7-5, 6-2 at No. 4 against sophomore
Cinta Maria Papke (Flein, Germany),
Emily Mallory lost just four games in her 6-2, 6-2 victory over junior
Mary Angela Martin (Mobile, Ala.), and
Lauren Caballero rallied from a first-set loss to defeat sophomore
Paula Sanchez (Bogota, Colombia) 3-6, 6-1, 7-5.
The Jaguars earned the doubles point and an early 1-0 lead following wins at the top two spots in the lineup. Meszarosova and junior
Emily Newton (Dothan, Ala.) handed Lewis and Mallory an 8-2 defeat at No. 1, and after the Bulldogs won 8-4 at No. 3, Mitta and Valkova improved to 7-0 on the season with an 8-4 win on the No. 3 court.
South Alabama returns to action Saturday with a dual match against UAB at noon.
For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).
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