Women’s Tennis Competes Big In Roberta Alison Classic

--- One Bulldog duo and one Bulldog netter win consolation brackets over tough competitors ---

Sept. 24, 2006

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ---- The Samford women’s tennis team came home with some big wins over tough competitors after two days of competition in the Roberta Alison Classic host by the University of Alabama.

Anna Jackson lost to Notre Dame’s Colleen Rielley, 2-2, but went on to get a big win over Mississippi State number two player Elna de Villiers (0-6, 6-3, 7-5) in the Single Black Draw finals.

Katie McMiller lost to Alabama’s Andrea Breanes (7-5, 3-6, 1-6) to put her in the Singles Blue Draw consolation bracket. She went on to a hand-fought loss to Deandra Saddler of Mississippi State in three sets, but then beat Birmingham-Southern’s Stephanie Boucher in three sets.

Whitnie Warren won the consolation bracket in the Singles Orange Draw by defeating Courtney Akel of UNC-Greensboro, 6-3, 6-1. Before that she beat another UNC-Greensboro foe in Whitney Miles.

Sarah McKey had an incredible first match against Nicole Briceno of Alabama, but could not pull out a win, falling 6-4, 6-7, 6-1. This moved McKey on to the back draw of the Singles Red Draw, meeting with fellow Bulldog Bethany Benson.

Bulldog duo Jackson/Warren won the consolation bracket of the Doubles Black Draw. The duo lost to Mississippi State’s number two team Saddler/Makarycheva, but went on to win big over Alabama’s Svensson/Tunaru, 8-3, to win the whole bracket.

In the Doubles Blue Draw, Katie McMiller and Sarah McKey had a tough loss to the number three Auburn team Kafferly/Asseff, 9-8(9).

Bulldog Head Coach Teri Sisk was very pleased with the performance of her team this weekend as they faced a number of big competitors.

“Overall, we had a really amazing weekend,” said Sisk. “Every year we go to this tournament, we show improvement. Samford is on the verge of being able to really compete with big teams like those of the SEC. I’m really excited to go to NC State nest week and see what we can do. It’s going to be a great year for us.”

The Lady Netters will travel to Raleigh, N.C., next weekend, Sept. 29 through Oct. 1, to compete in the NC State Invitational.

*** SAMFORD BULLDOGS ***