ATLANTA (Feb. 1, 2008)      The Georgia State women's tennis team (1-2) defeated visiting Tennessee Tech 7-0 in the first match of Friday's doubleheader, but fell 5-2 to Samford in the second.

The Panthers took control early, sweeping the doubles competition to earn their first point against Tennessee Tech (0-2).  Doubles partners Martina Nitkova and Katerina Gresova blanked the Golden Eagles' Katie Barnhill and Diana Woodcock 8-0 at No. 2 while Kiera Strickland and Kiara Powell took control at No. 3,  cruising past Kay Ngiam and Evgenia Yartseva 8-3 to make the score 1-0. 

Georgia State didn't allow more than two sets in singles play as every player swept her respective match.  Nitkova downed Holtzhausen 6-2 in two sets at No. 1 while Dariana Kozmina topped her opponent 6-2, 6-0 at No 2.  Newcomers Kiara Powell and Katerina Gresova collected their second victories of the match defeating their opponents 6-4, 6-4 and 6-0, 6-2 respectively, and helping the panthers clinch the 7-0 victory.

The Panthers took on Samford in its second match of the day, dropping the doubles point to find themselves in an early 0-1 deficit.    Nitkova and Gresova earned the team's lone win in doubles competition, downing Taylor Morgan and Lindsey Mallory 8-3. 

Nitkova and Kozmina led the Panthers at No. 1 and No. 2 in singles play, defeating their opponents 6-1, 7-5 and 6-0, 6-4 respectively.  With a 2-1 advantage over the Bulldogs, the Panthers battled to extend the lead. Strickland pushed her match to three sets, but fell 6-3, 3-6, 0-6 at No. 6 while Gresova fell in a close match, 7-6, 7-5 at No. 5 as Samford ran away with a 5-2 victory.

Georgia State hopes to rebound this weekend, hosting Florida A&M on Saturday at noon and Georgia Southern on Sunday at noon at Piedmont Tennis Center.

Visit GeorgiaStateSports.com for updates on women's tennis action.

Singles competition
1. Nitkova, Martina (GAST) def. Jackson, Anna (SAM) 6-1, 7-5
2. Kozmina, Dariana (GAST) def. Kirven, Rebecca (SAM) 6-0, 6-4
3. Morgan, Taylor (SAM) vs. Powell, Kiara (GAST) no result
4. Mallory, Lindsey (SAM) def. Malina, Rachel (GAST) 6-4, 6-3
5. (SAM) def. Gresova, Katerina (GAST) 7-6, 7-5
6. (SAM) def. Kiera Strickland (GAST) 6-3, 3-6, 0-6

Doubles competition
1. Jackson, Anna/Weaver, Katie (SAM) def. Malina, Rachel/Kozmina, Dariana (GAST) 8-4
2. Nitkova, Martina/Gresova, Katerina (GAST) def. Morgan, Taylor/Mallory, Lindsey (SAM) 8-3
3. Kirven, Rebecca/Meiring, Andrie (SAM) def. Strickland, Kiera/Powell, Kiara (GAST) 9-7