Blazers Top Crosstown Rival Samford

Wednesday, February 7

Birmingham, Ala.

2:00 PM

UAB

Samford

Blazers Top Crosstown Rival Samford

2/7/2018 8:11:00 PM | Women's Tennis

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The UAB women's tennis team returned to its winning ways on Wednesday when the Blazers defeated crosstown rival Samford 4-1 at the Courington Tennis Pavilion.

UAB (3-4) captured the doubles point and built a 1-0 lead after winning two of the three matches. Alexandra Shchipakina and Dominika Hrabalova won the first match of the day with a 6-3 win over Holly Horsfall and Elsa Pool at No. 2. Samford took the second doubles match at the No. 1 position, but the Blazer duo of Jana Hecking and Megan Bertrands clinched the point after downing Arianna Beltrame and Grace Jennings 6-3 at No. 3.

Marlene Hermann gave the Blazers a 2-0 advantage with a 6-1, 6-2 singles victory over Roos van der Zwann at No. 2. Bertrands followed with a 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 win against Horsfall at No. 3 to put UAB ahead 3-0, but Pool spoiled the shutout bid by downing Hrabalova at No. 4.

Shchipakina clinched the match for UAB at No. 1 after she bested Ellie Gerlach 5-7, 7-6, 6-2 at No. 1.

"I am really proud of the fight our girls showed today," UAB head coach Mark Tjia said. "Samford is known for their fierce competitiveness and they've had our number recently, so it feels really good to get this win. It was truly a team win today, starting with a great doubles point."

UAB returns to action Saturday at 12 p.m. when the Blazers host Lipscomb at George Ward Park.

For more information on UAB women's tennis, follow the Blazers on Twitter (@UAB_WTN) and Instagram (UAB_WTN). For more on all Blazer sports teams follow the official social media accounts of UAB Athletics on Twitter (@UAB_Athletics), on Facebook (Facebook.com/UAB.Blazers), on Instagram (@uab_athletics).