March 29, 2011

Results

STATESBORO, Ga. - In a Southern Conference match that was started Sunday at the Hanner Tennis Complex, the Samford University men's tennis team finally closed out its 5-2 victory against the Georgia Southern Eagles Tuesday. The match was initially postponed Sunday due to rain and was resumed Tuesday after the Bulldogs made the five-and-a-half-hour trek back to Statesboro.

With the win, Samford (13-4, 3-2 SoCon) concluded its arduous two-match road swing with a 2-0 record. On Saturday, the Bulldogs fought to a 4-3 triumph at Davidson in the first match of the four-day stretch. Samford improved to 4-1 in road contests this season with its only defeat occurring Feb. 6 at Georgia State.

Georgia Southern (9-7, 2-2 SoCon) suffered only its second loss in its previous seven matches Tuesday. Since March 8, the Eagles have tallied key victories against Furman, Florida Gulf Coast, Southern Illinois-Carbondale, Liberty and The Citadel. With the defeat, Georgia Southern dropped to 6-3 when playing at home this season.

On Sunday, Samford and Georgia Southern started the dual match with singles play and the Bulldogs earned victories on courts No. 3, No. 4, No. 5 and No. 6. Samford dominated the bottom four matches of the singles contest and received straight-set victories from Carl Abalos, Fernando Costa and Alexander Sajonz.

In the No. 4 singles match, the Bulldogs' Oliver Reynolds outlasted the Eagles' Marco Osorio 6-1, 3-6, 7-5. With the victory, Samford clinched the win and Reynolds improved his team-best record on the season to 13-3.

Tuesday's match was decided after the Bulldogs held a 4-2 advantage following singles play, but the teams agreed to close out the SoCon contest with the doubles competition.

Samford earned victories in two of the three matches to win the doubles point and registered its final 5-2 decision. The Bulldogs' tandem of Zac Dunkle and Sajonz improved their team-best doubles record to 14-2 with a victory on court No. 2, while Samford's pairing of Carson Kadi and Costa cruised to an 8-3 triumph on court No. 3.

The Samford University men's tennis team will next be in action Wednesday at 2 p.m. (CDT) as the Bulldogs return home to Birmingham, Ala., for another key SoCon match against the Chattanooga Mocs. The contest will be held at the Samford Tennis Center.