April 19, 2008

NASHVILLE, Tenn. ---- The Samford women's tennis earned a spot in the Ohio Valley Conference Tennis Championship final match Saturday after sweeping UT Martin in a hard-fought match at the Centennial Indoor Courts.

Rains forced tournament play inside after the first session of matches this morning. Instead of playing at Tennessee State, the afternoon matches took place at the Centennial Indoor Courts.

Samford took the early advantage by winning the doubles point, taking two of three matches. No. 1 duo Anna Jackson and Katie Weaver fell, 8-3, to Sara Leavy and Belisa De Brito, while No. 2 team Taylor Morgan and Lindsey Mallory won in a tiebreak, 9-8 (7-5), defeating Elizma Schoones and Ernestine Koornhof. Andrie Meiring and Rebecca Kirven sealed the doubles point for the Bulldogs, defeating Martie Wahl and Mary Beth Gunn, 8-2, at the No. 3 court.

In singles, the Bulldogs won three straight matches to lock up the team win. Morgan defeated Schoones in straight sets (6-1, 6-0) at the No. 2 court while Jackson defeated Wahl (6-4, 6-2) at the No. 3 court. Meiring fought through fatigue caused by sickness to defeat Leavy in three sets (6-1, 6-7, 6-3) at the No. 2 court.

The Samford women will face number two seed Eastern Kentucky in the finals Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Tennessee State Tennis Courts. Earlier today, the Samford men also defeated UT Martin to advance to the finals. The Bulldogs will take on in-state rival Jacksonville State Sunday at 10 a.m. at Tennessee State.

Samford 4, UT Martin 0

Doubles
1. Sara Leavy/Belisa De Brito (UTM) def. Anna Jackson/Katie Weaver (SAM), 8-3
2. Taylor Morgan/Lindsey Mallory (SAM) def. Elizma Scoonees/Ernestine Koornhof (UTM) 9-8 (7-5)
3. Andrie Meiring/Rebecca Kirven (SAM) def. Martie Wahl/Mary Beth Gunn (UTM) 8-2

Singles
1. Taylor Morgan (SAM) def. Elizma Scoonees (UTM) 6-1, 6-0
2. Andrie Meiring (SAM) def. Sara Leavy (UTM) 6-1, 6-7, 6-3
3. Anna Jackson (SAM) def. Martie Wahl (UTM) 6-4, 6-2
4. Belisa De Brito (UTM) vs. Katie Weaver (SAM) no result
5. Ernestine Koornhof (UTM) vs. Rebecca Kirven (SAM) no result
6. Mary Beth Gunn (UTM) vs. Lindsey Mallory (SAM) no result