Western Kentucky’s women’s tennis team lost to Samford 4-3 on Wednesday at the Warren County Tennis Facility at Michael O. Buchanon Park.

The Lady Toppers (6-4) claimed singles victories over the Bulldogs (7-3) from Rachel Hermanova at the No. 1 position, from Sofia Blanco at the No. 2 position and from Emily Schut at the No. 5 position.

Hermanova has now won back-to-back matches and improved to 7-3 in singles play from the No. 1 position with her win over Samford. Her singles win was the 56th of her career, which is a program record.

Blanco improved to 7-2 this season in singles play from the No. 2 position with her third consecutive win. The win was the 47th of her career, which ranks second in program history.

Schut improved to 7-1 in singles as a Lady Topper with her win over Samford. It was her third consecutive win. She is now 2-1 from the No. 5 position.

“Tough match against a really good Samford team. Give them credit – they came through and really out-competed us in doubles to start off with and that gave them momentum to get through the match,” WKU coach Greg Davis said in a news release. “That, and then they came up big down at three and six in three sets against us. That was the difference in the match.

“We’ve got three tough opponents coming up, so put this behind us. It was good to get outside and get a match in. We’ll be playing, more than likely, outside against Eastern Illinois on Friday. Sunday we’ve got Jacksonville State – a very, very difficult opponent coming in here – as well as Southern Indiana. We put this match behind us and we get ready for the next three matches in the homestand.”

The Lady Toppers will return to action Friday with a 1 p.m. match against Eastern Illinois at the Warren County Tennis Facility at Michael O. Buchanon Park. The match will be the third in a nine-match homestand.

Singles (Order of finish: 2,4,5,3,6,1)

1. Rachel Hermanova (WKU) def. Emily Surcey (SAMW) 4-6, 6-1, 6-3

2. Sofia Blanco (WKU) def. Margaret Jaraczewski (SAMW) 6-4, 6-2

3. Eleni Liakonis (SAMW) def. Mia Miranda (WKU) 1-6, 6-1, 6-2

4. Meredith Taylor (SAMW) def. Mariana Zegada (WKU) 6-2, 6-4

5. Emily Schut (WKU) def. Hailey Troup (SAMW) 6-4, 6-4

6. Libby Blair (SAMW) def. Elizabeth Sobieski (WKU) 3-6, 6-4, 6-2

Doubles (Order of finish: 3,2)

1. Mia Miranda/Emily Schut (WKU) vs. Emily Surcey/Sara Erenda (SAMW) 6-5, unfinished

2. Margaret Jaraczewski/Hailey Troup (SAMW) def. #85 Sofia Blanco/Rachel Hermanova (WKU) 7-5

3. Eleni Liakonis/Meredith Taylor (SAMW) def. Sunskrithi Damera/Mariana Zegada (WKU) 6-1