Richmond Drops Close 4-2 Match Against Samford

Thursday, March 14

Charleston, S.C.

2PM

University of Richmond

Samford

03/14/2019 | Women's Tennis

CHARLESTON, S.C. – The University of Richmond women's tennis team played without their top player sophomore Emily Dunbar (Medina, Ohio) and fell short against Samford, 4-2, Thursday in Charleston.

"I was happy with the way we stepped up after a tough match yesterday," head coach Mark Wesselink said. "It wasn't easy without our No. 1 player Emily (Dunbar) but Kiana (Marshall) rose to the challenge. She just keeps getting better. We are a little beat up but it will make us stronger. We need to get everyone healthy for a good run up to the Atlantic 10 Tournament."

The Spiders (5-5) lost the doubles point for the second-straight day. Junior Kiana Marshall (Bridgetown, Barbados) and junior Lyndell Giffenig (Salisbury, Conn.) lost to Elsa Pool and Holly Horsfall, 6-1, at No. 1 doubles.

The Bulldogs (9-6) clinched the doubles point at No. 2 doubles after Natalia De Ugarte and Arianna Beltrame defeated sophomore Adrienne Haynes (Asheville, N.C.) and freshman Helene Heiberg (Oslo, Norway), 6-4.

At No. 2 doubles, Lea Owens (Olney, Md.) and Dessi Zlateva (Sofia, Bulgaria) were tied 5-5 against Grace Jennings and Mary Kathrine Lewis as the match went unfinished.

In singles action, Marshall won in straight sets against Jennings, 6-3, 6-2, at No. 1 singles. At No. 2 singles, Pool gave Samford a 2-1 lead after winning 6-4, 6-3, against Zlateva. Owens tied the match at 2-2 with a 6-3, 6-4 win against De Ugarte at No. 3 singles.

The Bulldogs took a 3-2 lead after Beltrame won in straight sets against senior Ana Ramirez (Mexico City), 6-4, 6-3, at No. 5 singles.

Samford clinched the win after Lewis won a close third set against Giffenig, 6-2, 3-6, 6-4, at No. 6 singles.

In the final match, Heiberg went unfinished after starting a third set against Horsfall, 6-4, 2-6, 0-2.

Richmond returns home to host James Madison on Sunday, March 17, at 1 p.m.

Samford 4, Richmond 2
Singles
No. 1 – Kiana Marshall def. Grace Jennings (Samford), 6-3, 6-2
No. 2 – Elsa Pool (Samford) def. Dessi Zlateva, 6-4, 6-3
No. 3 – Lea Owens def. Natalia De Ugarte (Samford), 6-3, 6-4
No. 4 – Helene Heiberg vs. Holly Horsfall (Samford), 6-4, 2-6, 0-2 unfinished
No. 5 – Arianna Beltrame (Samford) def. Ana Ramirez, 6-4, 6-3
No. 6 – Mary Kathrine Lewis (Samford) def. Lyndell Giffenig, 6-2, 3-6, 6-4

Doubles
No. 1 – Pool/Horsfall (Samford) def. Giffenig/Marshall, 6-1
No. 2 – Zlateva/Owens vs. Jennings/Lewis (Samford), 5-5 unfinished
No. 3 – De Ugarte/Arianna Beltrame (Samford) def. Heiberg/Adrienne Haynes, 6-4

-UR-