March 6, 2004

BIRMINGHAM, Ala.--In it's fifth-straight match decided by one point, the Samford men's tennis team found themselves on the short end for just the second time. The Bulldogs (5-4, 1-1 OVC) rallied from 3-1 down to tie the match at 3-3, but fell just short and lost 4-3 to Morehead State (7-1, 1-0) in Ohio Valley Conference action, Saturday afternoon.

"I am really proud of the guys for the way they battled and fought this afternoon," Head Coach Kemper Baker said. "We have had so many, 4-3, matches this season and we know that we are going to have a lot more of them. We need some different guys to step up for us and provide us with some balance."

Bradley Weaver won No. 6 doubles, 6-2, 6-1, to tie the match at 3-3 with No. 5 singles still playing. In a three-set thriller at No. 5, Morehead State's Adam Storti edged the Bulldogs' Johnny Griffee, 6-2, 3-6, 7-6 (7-5) to clinch the match for the Golden Eagles. Stuart Misner started the Samford rally with a huge 6-2, 3-6, 6-4 victory on court three.

The Bulldogs won the doubles point going with a shuffled lineup. Manuel Miletic teamed up with Weaver at No. 2 and won 8-4. At No. 3, Misner teamed up with Rob Nunnery for a 9-8 (7-4) victory.

Samford will host Alabama A&M on Thursday at 3:00 p.m. The match will be played at the Darwin C. Hardison Tennis Center.

Morehead State 4 Samford 3
Doubles:
1. Johnstone/Kachel (MSU) d. Bryce/Griffee (SU) 8-6
2. Miletic/Weaver (SU) d. McLeod/Arbib (MSU) 8-4
3. Misner/Nunnery (SU) d. A. Storti/D. Storti (MSU) 9-8 (7-4)

Singles:
1. Greg Johnstone (MSU)d. Manuel Miletic (SU) 7-6, 6-2
2. Kim Kachel (MSU) d. James Bryce (SU) 6-3, 6-0
3. Stuart Misner (SU) d. Jacob McLeod (MSU) 6-2, 3-6, 6-4
4. Daniel Arbib (MSU) d. Rob Nunnery (SU) 3-6, 7-6, 6-2
5. Adam Storti (MSU) d. Johnny Griffee (SU) 6-2, 3-6, 7-6 (7-5)
6. Bradley Weaver (SU) d. Louis Orieux (MSU) 6-2, 6-1