Samford Women's Tennis Begins Spring With Win Over Georgia State

ATLANTA, Ga. ---- The Samford women's tennis team took on Georgia State Friday afternoon in its first competition of the spring season. Playing late into the night, the Bulldogs fought hard and walked away with their first win of the season, 5-2.

Samford dominated the singles portion of the match taking four of six from the Panthers. At the No. 1 court, Samford senior Anna Jackson fell to GSU's Martina Nitkova, 6-1, 7-5 and freshman Rebecca Kirven fell to Dariana Kozmina in the No. 2 court, 6-0, 6-4. However, the Bulldogs took over when freshman Taylor Morgan won her match at the No. 3 court with Kiara Powell, 6-4, 6-1, and Lindsey Mallory captured another win for the Bulldogs, defeating Rachel Melina at the No. 4 position, 6-4, 6-3. Samford's No. 5 and No. 6 players won their matches, defeating Katerina Gresova (7-6, 7-5) and Kiera Strickland (6-3, 3-6, 0-6), respectively.

In doubles competition, seniors Jackson and Katie Weaver defeated Malina/Kozmina at the No. 1 court, 8-4, while Morgan/Mallory fell to Nitkova/Gresova at the No. 2 court, 8-3. However, freshman duo Kirven and Andrie Meiring won the doubles point for the Bulldogs with a 9-7 win over Strickland/Powell at the No. 3 court.

Samford continues play Saturday with a match against Georgia Southern in Atlanta, Ga. Match play begin at 11 a.m. Check www.samfordsports.com for a full recap and results.

Samford 5, Georgia State 2

Singles
1. Nitkova, Martina (GAST) def. Jackson, Anna (SAM) 6-1, 7-5
2. Kozmina, Dariana (GAST) def. Kirven, Rebecca (SAM) 6-0, 6-4
3. Morgan, Taylor (SAM) vs. Powell, Kiara (GAST) 6-4, 6-1
4. Mallory, Lindsey (SAM) def. Malina, Rachel (GAST) 6-4, 6-3
5. Andrie Meiring (SAM) def. Gresova, Katerina (GAST) 7-6, 7-5
6. Katie Weaver (SAM) def. Kiera Strickland (GAST) 6-3, 3-6, 0-6

Doubles
1. Jackson, Anna/Weaver, Katie (SAM) def. Malina, Rachel/Kozmina, Dariana (GAST) 8-4
2. Nitkova, Martina/Gresova, Katerina (GAST) def. Morgan, Taylor/Mallory, Lindsey (SAM) 8-3
3. Kirven, Rebecca/Meiring, Andrie (SAM) def. Strickland, Kiera/Powell, Kiara (GAST) 9-7