BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The University of South Alabama women's tennis team fell 6-1 to Samford Saturday afternoon at the Samford Tennis Center.

Jaguars Nikola Kohoutova and Otoha Aoki started off doubles with a 6-1 victory against Olivia Jablonski and Alex Koniaev, but the Bulldogs fought back and earned the doubles point at the No.1 and No.2 positions. Samford then went on to win five of the six singles matches.

SAMFORD 6, SOUTH ALABAMA 1
Date: 2/20
Place: Samford Tennis Center (Birmingham, Ala.)
Records: USA (3-1), SAM (4-4)

DOUBLES
1. Rouxanne Van Rensbur / Alexis Lopez (SAM) def. Cami Moreno / Yurie Takanishi (USA) 6-2
2. Natalia De Ugarte / Cindy Oest (SAM) def. Yu Fujioka / Milka Pasanen (USA) 6-3
3. Nikola Kohoutova / Otoha Aoki (USA) def. Olivia Jablonski / Alex Koniaev (SAM) 6-1
Order of Finish: (3,1,2)

SINGLES
1. Van Rensburg (SAM) def. Fujioka (USA) 6-1, 4-6, 7-5
2. De Ugarte (SAM) def. Moreno (USA) 6-2, 3-6, 7-5
3. Kohoutova (USA) def. Lopez (SAM) 6-4, 6-3
4. Oest (SAM) def. Takanishi (USA) 6-4, 6-3
5. Samantha Nanere (SAM) def. Diana Monsalve (USA) 7-5, 6-2
6. Jablonski (SAM) def. Aoki (USA) 4-6, 6-4, 4-1 (retired)
Order of Finish: (3,4,5,1,2,6)

NOTES
- Kohoutova and Aoki recorded their third doubles win as a pair (6-1) against Samford.
- Kohoutova also earned her third consecutive singles victory of the season, with her win coming in straight sets (6-4, 6-3) against Bulldog Lopez.
- Samford snapped South's six-match winning streak in the all-time series between the two clubs in the win.

UP NEXT 
- South Alabama will return to action tomorrow to take on UAB at 10 a.m. at George Ward Park in Birmingham, Ala.

THEY SAID IT
Head Coach Jaco Keyser
- On today's match: "No need to put a positive spin on today's proceedings. Today was a huge setback and extremely disappointing. Credit to Samford, who was presented with an opportunity and deserved to win. Lack of execution in basic fundamentals leads to breakdown in point play patterns and point construction, and sometimes all the competitive spirit in the world cannot make up for it. The next 24 hours will be crucial to see if we have the mental discipline to process today, reset and hope the phrase 'it's always darkest just before dawn' will apply to us. We are looking forward to a good battle with UAB tomorrow."

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/WeAreSouth_JAGS. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

Join the Baseline Club, the tennis-specific support club of the Jaguar Athletic Fund. All donations to the Baseline Club go directly to support the South Alabama men's and women's tennis programs. For more information on how you can join visit: http://jaguarathleticfund.com/baselineclub