Lady Golden Eagle Netters Down Samford, 5-2

Lady Golden Eagle Netters Down Samford, 5-2

Olivia Berry clinched the match for the Lady Eagles at No. 5 singles

- The Southern Miss women's tennis team improved to 3-2, following a 5-2 victory over Samford Sunday afternoon.

Southern Miss earned the doubles points, sweeping the matches for the 1-0 lead.  Olivia Berry and Courtney Ulrich defeated Christie Baker and Sarah McKey at No. 3 doubles, 8-4, followed by Kathi Sadofsky and Nicola Slater defeating Katie Crawford and Hattiesburg native, Emily Nunnally, 8-5, at No. 1 doubles.  Grace Kammerer and Nikhila Narra defeated Bethany Benson and Jen Pharr, 8-6, at No. 2 doubles.

"I am very happy with the intensity we showed in today's match," Head Coach Randy Rowley said.  "We came out flat yesterday, in part to looking forward to today's match.  We were willing to fight and that made the difference."

Southern Miss went up, 2-0, following a win at No. 6 singles when Ulrich defeated Baker (SAM) in straight sets, 6-2, 7-5.  Narra dropped her first set 6-2, then rebounded to take the next two over Crawford, 6-1, 6-2, at No. 2 singles, giving the Lady Eagles a 3-0 lead.

Samford got its first point of the match at No. 4 singles, when Pharr defeated Kammerer in three sets, 6-3, 1-6, 6-3.

Berry was serving to clinch the match when play was suspended because of a lighting problem at Tatum Park and the remaining matches were moved to the Raquet Club of Hattiesburg.  Berry served out her set, for a 7-6, 6-4 win over Benson, clinching the match for the Lady Eagles.  Slater needed three sets to defeat Nunnally, 6-4, 3-6, 7-5.  However, Nunnally was serving for the match at 5-4, but after the move, Slater broke Nunnally twice to win the third set.  Samford's other win came at No. 3 singles with McKey defeating Sadofsky in three sets, 6-3, 6-7 (4), 6-4.

Southern Miss returns to action on Mar. 3, against Southeastern Louisiana at 2 p.m., at Tatum Park.

Tennis Match Results

Samford vs. Southern Miss

2/29/2004 at Hattiesburg, Miss./Tatum Park

Southern Miss 5, Samford 2

Singles competition:

1. Nicola Slater (USM) def. Emily Nunnally (SAM) 6-4, 3-6, 7-5

2. Nikhila Narra (USM) def. Katie Crawford (SAM) 2-6, 6-1, 6-2

3. Sarah McKey (SAM) def. Kathi Sadofsky (USM) 6-3, 6-7 (4-7), 6-4

4. Jen Pharr (SAM) def. Grace Kammerer (USM) 6-3, 1-6, 6-3

5. Olivia Berry (USM) def. Bethany Benson (SAM) 7-6, 6-3

6. Courtney Ulrich (USM) def. Christie Baker (SAM) 6-2, 7-5

Doubles competition:

1. Kathi Sadofsky/Nicola Slater (USM) def. Katie Crawford/Emily Nunnally (SAM) 8-5

2. Grace Kammerer/Nikhila Narra (USM) def. Bethany Benson/Jen Pharr (SAM) 8-6

3. Olivia Berry/Courtney Ulrich (USM) def. Christie Baker/Sarah McKey (SAM) 8-4

Match Notes:

Samford 3-3

Southern Miss 3-2

Order of finish: Doubles (3, 1, 2); Singles (6,2,4,5,1,3)

No. 5 singles clinched the match

Lady Golden Eagle Netters Down Samford, 5-2

Related Videos