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NASHVILLE, Tenn. \u2013 Freshmen Mia Jones<\/a> and Ketevan Jeladze<\/a> 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. #ItsBruinTime
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\nThe 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.
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\nBoth 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.
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\nIn doubles action, the No. 1 duo of sophomore Jessica Popiol<\/a> and redshirt freshman Savannah Webster<\/a> topped Samford’s Lea and Sara Erenda 7-5.
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\nHowever, Belmont was defeated 6-3 at second doubles and 6-1 at the third doubles spot.
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\nPopiol 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.
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\nAll of Friday’s match scores can be found below.
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\nSamford 5, Belmont 2
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\nDoubles
\nNo. 1 \u2013 Jessica Popiol<\/a>\/Savannah Webster<\/a> (Belmont) def. Lea Erenda\/Sara Erenda (Samford), 7-5
\nNo. 2 \u2013 Eleni Liakonis\/Hailey Troup (Samford) def. Mia Jones<\/a>\/Cielo Tapia-Cruz<\/a> (Belmont), 6-3
\nNo. 3 \u2013 Laila Fishman\/Cathy Cardona-Carballosa (Samford) def. Libbie Hamilton<\/a>\/Emma Grant<\/a> (Belmont), 6-1
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\nSingles
\nNo. 1 \u2013 Lea Erenda (Samford) def. Savannah Webster<\/a> (Belmont), 6-2, 6-1
\nNo. 2 \u2013 Mia Jones<\/a> (Belmont) def. Sara Erenda (Samford), 3-6, 7-6 (6), 1-0 (11-9)
\nNo. 3 \u2013 Eleni Liakonis (Samford) def. Jessica Popiol<\/a> (Belmont), 6-3, 3-6, 6-3
\nNo. 4 \u2013 Laila Fishman (Samford) def. Cielo Tapia-Cruz<\/a> (Belmont), 6-4, 6-4
\nNo. 5 \u2013 Ketevan Jeladze<\/a> (Belmont) def. Hailey Troup (Samford), 4-6, 6-0, 6-1
\nNo. 6 \u2013 Cathy Cardona-Carballosa (Samford) def. Libbie Hamilton<\/a> (Belmont), 6-3, 6-1
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\nThe 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.
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\nHow to Follow
\nFollow Belmont women’s tennis on social media \u2013\u00a0@BelmontWTennis<\/a>\u00a0on X, formerly Twitter,\u00a0@belmontwtennis<\/a>\u00a0on Instagram and\u00a0Belmont Women’s Tennis<\/a>\u00a0on Facebook \u2013 for complete coverage of the Bruins. Stay up to date with all of Belmont’s athletic programs via the\u00a0official app of the Belmont Bruins<\/a>, available both in the Apple App Store and on Google Play.
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