The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Samford
Samford Edges UAB
2/17/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Final Results
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Despite a hard-fought battle, cross-town rival Samford edged the UAB women’s tennis team, 4-3, at the Samford Tennis Complex on Wednesday afternoon.
“This was a great college match, but it was a heartbreaker,” head coach Mark Tija said. “Both teams fought so hard and had their chances, but in the end Samford prevailed.”
A three-and-a-half-hour match came down to court six, but the Bulldogs were able to outlast the Blazers in a heartbreaking third set to claim the victory.
“We grew today as a team, and we will be better from this, though right now it hurts,” Tija added. “I am so proud of the way we competed. We had some really gutsy performances from Pardis, Cat and McKenna.”
Samford managed to claim a 1-0 lead in thanks to wins on courts two and three in doubles action. Catherine Ragon and McKenna Root suffered a 6-1 loss on court three to give the Bulldogs the upper hand. On court two, Annika Hepp and Ellie Gerlach delivered Sophie Dodds and Reghan Lynch a hard-fought 6-4 loss to claim the point. Meanwhile, on court one, Elaine Simon and Paradis Kianoush were in a battle, but led 5-4.
In singles play, the Blazers knotted the game at 1-all as Ragon claimed a 6-1, 6-1 win on court three.
The Bulldogs reclaimed their lead, 2-1, with a win on court five over Dodds. Samford extended its lead to 3-1 after a win on court two over Simon.
UAB refused to go quietly as Root cut the lead to one at 3-2 with a come-from-behind, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 win on court four.
Lynch jumped out to an early lead on court six in the first set, but fell in two straight sets to Samford’s Hepp, which allowed the Bulldogs to claim the 4-3 win.
Next up, the Blazers host No. 25 Mississippi State at George Ward. First serve is slated for 2 p.m.
Doubles (3,2,1)
- Elaine Simon/Pardis Kianoush (UAB) led Carita Moolman/Jessica Northcutt (SAM); 5-4 (susp.)
- Annika Hepp/Ellie Gerlach (SAM) def. Sophie Dodds/Reghan Lynch (UAB); 6-4
- Savannah Wood/Iva Parapunova (SAM) def. Catherine Ragon/McKenna Root (UAB); 6-1
Singles (3, 5, 2, 4, 6*, 1)
- Pardis Kianoush (UAB) def. Jessica Northcutt (SAM); 6-4, 6-1
- Carita Moolman (SAM) def. Elaine Simon (UAB); 7-5, 2-6, 6-2
- Catherine Ragon (UAB) def. Iva Parapunova (SAM); 6-1, 6-1
- McKenna Root (UAB) def. Ellie Gerlach (SAM); 3-6, 6-4, 6-3
- Savannah Wood (SAM) def. Sophie Dodds (UAB); 7-5, 6-1
- Annika Hepp (SAM) def. Reghan Lynch (UAB); 6-7, 6-0, 7-5
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Players Mentioned
