March 20, 2008

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. ---- Freshman Bulldog tennis player Andrie Meiring was named this week's Tennis Female Athlete of the Week by Ohio Valley Conference officials Wednesday. The honor goes to the conference player who has turned in an outstanding performance on the tennis court in the previous week.

The Stellenbosch, South Africa, native posted a perfect 3-0 record in singles and was 2-1 in doubles last week as Samford improved to 9-2, 3-0 OVC, with two victories over conference opponents. At No. 3 singles, Meiring scored a 6-1, 6-2 win over Jacksonville State and followed that with a 6-2, 6-1 win at No. 2 singles against Austin Peay. The week ended with a 7-6, 0-6, 6-4 win at No. 2 against Houston. Meiring was part of the No. 3 doubles team that scored wins against both OVC competitors this weekend.

"Andrie has done well at every position we have played her in this spring," Samford head coach David Vest said. "Only arriving in January, I didn't want to play her too high in the lineup too soon, but she obviously has shown that she deserves to be a top half of the lineup player for us."

Meiring has played the four middle courts throughout the course of the season so far, and remains undefeated against all her opponents.

The Samford women have won four of their last five, winning four straight and falling in a close match to Houston on Sunday. The Bulldogs hope to bounce back against non-conference opponent Mercer on Saturday, March 22. Match play starts at 9 a.m. at the Pat M. Courington Tennis Pavilion.