March 31, 2009

Results

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - In a match that was forced to be played indoors due to an incessant rainstorm, the Samford University men's tennis team came from behind to post a thrilling 4-3 Southern Conference victory against the Chattanooga Mocs at the Manker Patten Courts.

In the triumph, Samford (5-11-1, 2-3-1 Southern Conference) dropped the doubles point, but posted four straight-set victories in singles play to register the hard-fought, come-from-behind win. The Bulldogs' competed in their first road match in over five weeks Tuesday and improved to 2-3 when playing away from home.

Samford fell short in two of the three doubles matches; therefore Chattanooga (1-14, 0-7 SoCon) gained the early lead in Tuesday's contest, 1-0.

The Bulldogs' lone victory in doubles play occurred on court No. 3 as the combination of Richard Walsh and Carson Kadi toppled the Mocs' duo comprised of Sam Parfitt and Rick van de Bovenkamp, 8-6.

Despite its early 1-0 deficit, Samford rallied from behind in singles play to earn the 4-3 victory.

The Bulldogs dropped matches on courts No. 1 and No. 2, but picked up straight-set victories on each of the bottom four courts to post the win. Samford's Carson Kadi breezed by Chattanooga's Dakota Pate 6-3, 6-0 in the No. 3 singles contest, while Brian Dushock cruised past Alexandr Butnarcuic on court No. 4, 6-1, 6-2.

In the bottom third of Samford's singles lineup, sophomores Oliver Reynolds and Carl Abalos tallied the key victories to lead the Bulldogs to the win.

Abalos, Samford's native of Woodstock, Ga., posted a 6-3, 6-3 triumph over Chattanooga's Parfitt on court No. 6, while Reynolds clinched the Bulldogs' thrilling come-from-behind win with a 7-5, 6-2 victory against Van de Bovenkamp in the No. 5 singles contest.

With the win, Samford's Reynolds improved to 9-5 in singles play this season.

The Samford men's tennis team will next be in action Friday at 2 p.m. (CDT) as the Bulldogs travel to Charleston, S.C., for a crucial SoCon matchup against The Citadel Bulldogs to be held at the Earle Tennis Center.