May 9, 2008

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. ---- The Samford women's tennis team closed out the 2008 campaign Friday in a tough loss to 12th-ranked Florida State in the first round of the NCAA Championship Tournament. The Bulldogs fell to the host team Seminoles, who were a 14-seed overall in the tournament, by a score of 4-0.

However, the Samford women and head coach David Vest did were not wholly disappointed in the loss.

"To not be ranked and to not have played a Division I ranked team all year, to come out and play the No. 12 team in the country was a big challenge for us," said Vest. "We had three goals this year - to be nationally ranked, to win the OVC Tournament and to win the regular season. We obviously achieved most of those goals and I think they are very proud of that. They played extremely well against this team."

The Seminoles came out and dominated the doubles points, winning two out of three matches. Anna Jackson and Katie Weaver fell to Katie Rybakova and Ania Rynarzewska at the No. 1 court, 8-1, while Lindsey Mallory and Taylor Morgan fell, 8-4, at the No. 2 court to Carolin Walter and Federica Suess.

No. 3 duo Andrie Meiring and Rebecca Kirven played a close match with Lauren Macfarlane and Jessica Wente, holding the advantage until the Seminole duo tied the match at three and took over 4-3. The match was unfinished due to Florida State winning the double point with wins at the first two courts.

Things looked great for the Bulldogs when singles began as five of six Bulldogs started with the 1-0 advantage. Soon, three Bulldogs were up in the first set while three were down, and Samford looked to have a surge of energy after a tough doubles defeat.

However, towards the end of the first set, the Seminoles began to play harder and within minutes, Florida State had taken over and one five of six first sets. Samford's Mallory fought hard against Suess at the No. 6 court, taking her opponent to a tie break in the first set.

Eventually, Florida State took over and won three straight singles to capture the team win and end the Bulldogs' season. No. 1 player Morgan fell to Rybakova, 6-3, 6-2, while Weaver fell to Wente (6-1, 6-2) at the No. 4 court and Kirven fell to Tapiwa Marobela (6-1, 6-0) at the No. 5 court. All other matches were suspended.

The Bulldog women cap of an incredible season accomplishing many goals and continuing the winning tradition that has been set before them. They earned their third conference tournament title in five year, their second regular-season crown and their third trip to the NCAA tournament.

"Overall we had an incredible year," said Vest, "especially with six freshman and two seniors. This was a good way to end it because we didn't play badly. We just haven't played against that type of competition all year."

2008 NCAA Tournament First Round
May 9, 2008
No. 12 Florida State 4, Samford 0

Doubles
1. Rybakova/Rynarzewski (FSU) def. Jackson/Weaver (SAM), 8-1
2. Walter/Suess (FSU) def. Morgan/Mallory (SAM), 8-4
3. Wente/Macfarlane (FSU) def. Kirven/Meiring (SAM), 4-3, unfinished

Singles
1. Katie Rybakova (FSU) def. Taylor Morgan (SAM), 6-3, 6-2
2. Lauren Macfarlane (FSU) def. Andrie Meiring (SAM), 6-2, 4-1, unfinished
3. Carolin Walter (FSU) def. Anna Jackson (SAM), 6-4, 3-1, unfinished
4. Jessica Wente (FSU) def. Katie Weaver (SAM), 6-1, 6-2
5. Tapiwa Marobela (FSU) def. Rebecca Kirven (SAM), 6-1, 6-0
6. Lindsey Mallory (SAM) vs. Federica Suess (FSU), 7-6, 1-0, unfinished