UNCG stays perfect in SoCon play, defeats No. 74 Samford
GREENSBORO, N.C. – UNCG moved to 2-0 in Southern Conference action as the Spartans pulled out a 4-3 win over previously undefeated No. 74 Samford on Sunday afternoon at the UNCG Tennis Courts.
The Spartans (4-1) started the match by winning the decisive doubles point as the teams each won three singles matches. Stephanie Macfarlane and Alex Whitehead jumped out to a 5-0 lead at No. 1 doubles en route to defeating Taylor Morgan and Lindsey Mallory, 8-4.
Madelie Van Rensburg and Jessica Diamond knotted things up at one for the Bulldogs (7-1) after they defeated Mikayla Rogers and Devon Sutherland in a tight match, 8-6. The duo of Niltooli Wilkins and Lucy Dougherty pulled it out for UNCG at No. 2 doubles with their 8-5 win to clinch the doubles point for the home team.
Samford tied the team score at one after Andrie Meiring defeated Whitehead at No. 2 singles 6-3, 6-3. Macfarlane put the Spartans back in front after she defeated Van Rensburg at No. 3 singles 6-4, 6-2.
Once again, the Bulldogs were able to tie the team score at 2-2 when Kristin Lewis won 6-4, 6-2 against Dilara Yurtkuran at No. 4 singles. Dougherty edged the Spartans ahead 3-2 after her 7-5, 6-2 win against Rebecca Kirven at No. 5 singles.
Wilkins clinched the match for UNCG as she moved to a perfect 5-0 in the spring season. Despite dropping the first set, 6-0, Wilkins bounced back to easily win the final two sets 6-1, 6-0 to give UNCG a 4-2 advantage.
In the final match, the Bulldogs' Mallory scored a 6-4, 6-3 win at No. 6 singles against Annette Rios.
The Spartans will step out of conference play on Thursday as they travel to No. 3 North Carolina for a 12 p.m. match.
AGATE
UNCG 4, No. 74 Samford
Doubles:
No. 1: Stephanie Macfarlane/Alex Whitehead (UNCG) def. Taylor Morgan/Lindsey Mallory (Sam), 8-4
No. 2: Niltooli Wilkins/Lucy Dougherty (UNCG) def. Andrie Meiring/Rebecca Kirven (Sam), 8-5
No. 3: Madelie Van Rensburg/Jessica Diamond (Sam) def. Mikayla Rogers/Devon Sutherland (UNCG), 8-6
order of finish: 1,3,2* - *clinched doubles point
Singles:
No. 1: Niltooli Wilkins (UNCG) def. Taylor Morgan (Sam), 0-6, 6-1, 6-0
No. 2: Andrie Meiring (Sam) def. Alex Whitehead (UNCG), 6-3, 6-3
No. 3: Steph Macfarlane (UNCG) def. Madelie Van Rensburg (Sam), 6-4, 6-2
No. 4: Kristin Lewis (Sam) def. Dilara Yurtkuran (UNCG), 6-4, 6-2
No. 5: Lucy Dougherty (UNCG) def. Rebecca Kirven (Sam), 7-5, 6-2
No. 6: Lindsey Mallory (Sam) def. Annette Rios (UNCG), 6-4, 6-3
order of finish: 2,3,4,5,1*,6 - *clinched match
- UNCG -