Feb. 25, 2007
CANTON, Ga. - Kennesaw State suffered another setback as Samford upended the Owls, 7-0, for KSU's sixth straight loss of the season at the BridgeMill Tennis Center on Sunday.
The Owls (0-6) were competitive at No. 1 and No. 2 doubles before falling to the defending Ohio Valley Conference champions. Samford (2-1) earned a split in their weekend trip to Georgia after having dropped their match at Georgia State on Saturday.
"It's been a really tough few matches for the team," said head coach T.J. Greggs. " I think we're a lot better than our results are showing, but it's really tough when four of your top players are unable to play for various reasons. We are without Paula Takara, Madeleine Hakansson, Diana Georgescu and today, we were without Mercedes Cobos after doubles, so it's been very tough to pull out these matches."
Kennesaw State dropped the first point of the day as they were swept in doubles. The No. 1 team of Mercedes Cobos and Giselle Nakaura and the No. 2 side of Karen Ammann and Caroline Page lost their matches by an 8-4 score. The No. 3 team of Lindsey Whalen and Jeni Thomas were shutout, 8-0.
Nakakura played well at No. 2 singles for the Owls, but lost in straight sets. Nakakura dropped the first set 6-4 and then lost a hard-fought second set, 7-5.
"I was pleased with the way Giselle played," added Greggs. "She had leads in both sets and really had several chances to win."
The remainders of the singles flight saw only the No. 3-seed, Thomas, win more than two games as she lost her match to Emily White, 6-2, 6-1.
"Everyone had to play up one spot, so it was tough on some of the players, commented Greggs. "We'll get back on track next weekend, as the team is working very hard. We just haven't had the ball bounce our way yet, but it's coming soon. No team should take us lightly, regardless of our record."
Kennesaw State is back in action when they play Belmont on March 2 and Western Carolina on March 3.
Samford 7, Kennesaw State 0
Doubles
No. 1 White/McKey (Sam) d. Cobos/Nakakura (KSU) 8-4
No. 2 Jackson/Warren (Sam) d. Ammann/Page (KSU) 8-4
No. 3 McMiller/Baker (Sam) d. Whalen/Thomas (KSU) 8-0
Singles
No. 1 Anna Jackson (Sam) d. Karen Ammann (KSU) 6-1, 6-1
No. 2 Katie McMiller (Sam) d. Giselle Nakakura (KSU) 6-4, 7-5
No. 3 Emily White (Sam) d. Jeni Thomas (KSU) 6-2, 6-1
No. 4 Whitnie Warren (Sam) d. Caroline Page (KSU) 6-2, 6-0
No. 5 Sarah McKey (Sam) d. Lindsey Whalen (KSU) 6-1, 6-1
No. 6 Bethany Benson (Sam) d. Morgan Wolkin (KSU) 6-0, 6-1
