BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – After falling behind 3-0 to Samford on Sunday, March 18, the Elon women’s tennis team rallied with four straight singles wins to claim a 4-3 victory over the Bulldogs in Southern Conference action from the Samford Tennis Center.
Elon improves to 12-4 on the year and 3-1 in league play with the win, while Samford falls to 9-4 (1-3 SoCon) with the setback.
“I am so proud of our team’s positive determination today against a quality opponent,” said Elon head coach Elizabeth Anderson. “Today was an entire team effort. Frida [Jansaker] set the tone by winning first and then Briana [Berne] helped greatly to get the positive momentum going in our favor. Viviana [Stavreva] fought hard in her match to tie it and set Jordan [Johnston] up to clinch the match. This was a great win for us moving forward into Tuesday’s match.”
After dropping the doubles point and two singles matches to the Bulldogs, Frida Jansaker helped limit Samford to a 3-1 lead. Jansaker topped Samford’s Stephanie N’tcha, 7-5, 6-3, in two sets to bring the maroon and gold closer. Jansaker has won 11 straight in singles play for the Phoenix.
Briana Berne helped the Phoenix inch closer at No. 6 singles, as her 6-2, 7-5 win over Samford’s Jessica Diamond made it a 3-2 match.
Viviana Stavreva helped tie it at 3-all in a highly competitive battle versus Rebecca Kirven. Stavreva won the first set, 6-4, but Kirven bounced back for a dominant 6-1 victory in the second set to push the match to a third set. Stavreva managed to regroup in the third set, claiming a 6-4 victory to put the momentum in Elon’s favor with only No. 1 singles remaining.
Jordan Johnston, who was named SoCon Player of the Week this past week, needed three sets at No. 1 singles to clinch the win for Elon. Johnston topped Kristin Lewis, 6-4, in the first set, but fell 6-2 in the second set to send the match to a decisive third set. It was all Johnston in the third set, as the Snellville, Ga., native bounced back for a 6-4 victory to give the Phoenix the 4-3 win over the Bulldogs.
Elon returns to action on Tuesday, March 20, in Chattanooga, Tenn., when the Phoenix takes on the UTC Lady Mocs.