Story Links

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Freshmen Mia Jones and Ketevan Jeladze earned singles wins Friday evening at the Ensworth Tennis Center, but it wasn’t enough as the Belmont University women’s tennis team fell 5-2 to visiting Samford. Despite a win at No. 1 doubles, the Bruins (0-3) were unable to secure the pivotal doubles point and faltered in four of the six singles matches.
 
The Bulldogs (3-1) won a trio of singles matches in straight sets and clinched the win with a 6-4, 6-4 triumph by Laila Fishman at No. 4 singles.
 
Both Jones and Jeladze prevailed in three sets at the No. 2 and No. 5 singles positions, respectively. At the fifth singles spot, Jeladze overcame a 6-4 opening set loss to Samford’s Hailey Troup with dominant 6-0 and 6-1 second and third sets. At second singles, Jones edged the Bulldogs’ Sara Erenda in an 11-9 super tiebreaker for the third set. After dropping the first set, 6-3, Jones gutted out an 8-6 win in a second set tiebreaker to set up the deciding third-set tiebreak.
 
In doubles action, the No. 1 duo of sophomore Jessica Popiol and redshirt freshman Savannah Webster topped Samford’s Lea and Sara Erenda 7-5.
 
However, Belmont was defeated 6-3 at second doubles and 6-1 at the third doubles spot.
 
Popiol took a 6-3 second set off the Bulldogs’ Eleni Liakonis, the reigning Southern Conference Player of the Week, at No. 3 singles but endured 6-3 losses in the first and third sets.
 
All of Friday’s match scores can be found below.
 
Samford 5, Belmont 2
 
Doubles
No. 1 – Jessica Popiol/Savannah Webster (Belmont) def. Lea Erenda/Sara Erenda (Samford), 7-5
No. 2 – Eleni Liakonis/Hailey Troup (Samford) def. Mia Jones/Cielo Tapia-Cruz (Belmont), 6-3
No. 3 – Laila Fishman/Cathy Cardona-Carballosa (Samford) def. Libbie Hamilton/Emma Grant (Belmont), 6-1
 
Singles
No. 1 – Lea Erenda (Samford) def. Savannah Webster (Belmont), 6-2, 6-1
No. 2 – Mia Jones (Belmont) def. Sara Erenda (Samford), 3-6, 7-6 (6), 1-0 (11-9)
No. 3 – Eleni Liakonis (Samford) def. Jessica Popiol (Belmont), 6-3, 3-6, 6-3
No. 4 – Laila Fishman (Samford) def. Cielo Tapia-Cruz (Belmont), 6-4, 6-4
No. 5 – Ketevan Jeladze (Belmont) def. Hailey Troup (Samford), 4-6, 6-0, 6-1
No. 6 – Cathy Cardona-Carballosa (Samford) def. Libbie Hamilton (Belmont), 6-3, 6-1
 
Up Next                                                      
The Bruins are back in action Sunday morning when they travel to Evansville, Indiana, for a neutral-site match with Austin Peay. First serve is set for 11 a.m. Next weekend, Belmont hosts Southeast Missouri Friday and North Alabama Saturday at the Ensworth Tennis Center.
 
How to Follow
Follow Belmont women’s tennis on social media – @BelmontWTennis on X, formerly Twitter, @belmontwtennis on Instagram and Belmont Women’s Tennis on Facebook – for complete coverage of the Bruins. Stay up to date with all of Belmont’s athletic programs via the official app of the Belmont Bruins, available both in the Apple App Store and on Google Play.
 

#ItsBruinTime