By Anna Clark, Staff Writer
After falling to the Wofford Terriers in the SoCon Championship quarterfinals last season, the Samford Women’s Tennis Team has come back stronger and is ready to take on the 2023-24 season. On the weekend of Sept. 22, the Bulldogs displayed a stellar performance in the first of two Samford Round Robin tournaments at the Samford Tennis Center. In the tournament, Samford faced Central Arkansas, Troy and Tulane.
The Bulldogs led the pack, winning 17 out of 24 singles matches. Senior Ally Hayduk and graduate student Noelle Mauro posted records of 3-0 in singles. Sophomore Meredith Taylor finished with 2-0 for the weekend. Emily Surcey, Samantha Maras and Margaret Jaraczewski each went 2-1 in singles. Samford also won six out of 12 doubles matches, with Hayduk, Taylor, Surcey and Jaraczewski each posting 2-1 records.
In the 2022-23 season, tournament standout Ally Hayduk boasted eight singles and two doubles wins for Samford. Other tournament standouts include Noelle Mauro and Meredith Taylor’s impressive records last season. Mauro graduated with 83 career wins for Middle Tennessee State University, and Meredith Taylor held two singles and five doubles wins during her freshman year at UNC Wilmington. After their performance this weekend, it’s clear they will be key players in Samford’s program.
As the Bulldogs progress throughout their current season, anticipation continues to grow surrounding the team. The team’s next tournament will be Oct. 5-8 in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association.
