Samford Media Guide

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Samford University men's tennis team will attempt to extend its winning streak to four-consecutive matches Saturday at 12:30 p.m. (CDT) as the Bulldogs face off against the Wofford Terriers in a late-season Southern Conference contest to be held at the Reeves Tennis Center.
 
Samford (10-7, 5-1 SoCon) heads into the matchup riding a positive wave of momentum after blanking Chattanooga, 7-0, on Wednesday. With their recent home victory, the Bulldogs continued their stellar play at home this season and improved to 7-2 when competing in Birmingham, Ala.
 
Since dropping a hard-fought 5-2 decision to first-place Elon on March 24, Samford has posted three-consecutive league victories against Davidson, 7-0, Appalachian State, 4-3, and Chattanooga, 7-0.
 
In Wednesday's lopsided triumph, the Bulldogs were winners on courts No. 2 and No. 3 to secure the all-important doubles point.
 
Samford then built upon its early 1-0 advantage and reeled off six-consecutive, straight-set victories in singles play to record its fourth shutout win of the 2013 season. The Bulldogs' victors in singles play Wednesday were Zac Dunkle, Elliot Barnwell, Fares Kilani, Alex Sajonz, Austin Akers and Garrison Laduca.
 
Dunkle, Samford's senior All-SoCon standout from Atlanta, extended his winning streak to four-consecutive matches as he posted a 6-3, 6-4 triumph over the Mocs' Roberto Vieira on court No. 1. With the win, Dunkle improved to 9-6 in dual-match play this season and remained undefeated against SoCon opponents at 5-0.
 
The Bulldogs' Akers and Barnwell both reached the 11-win mark Wednesday with respective straight-set victories over their Chattanooga counterparts on courts No. 4 and No. 2. Akers, Samford's sophomore transfer from the University of Wisconsin, moved to 11-5 this season, while Barnwell improved to 11-6.
 
Wofford (3-10, 1-5 SoCon) enters Saturday's contest with aspirations of snapping its current two-match losing streak. The Terriers have been defeated in seven of their last eight outings and have been outscored 30-12 in conference play this season.
 
On March 20, Wofford defeated The Citadel, 4-3, to post its lone win in SoCon play. The Terriers' victory was held in Charleston and snapped a five-match losing streak.
 
In Wofford's most recent outing on March 30, the Terriers dropped a 5-2 league decision to Chattanooga. In doubles action, the Mocs jumped in front early with an 8-1 win by John Peacey and Chris Smith over Wofford's Tom Wood and David Sklar at the No. 2 position.
 
Chattanooga then clinched the doubles point after Manuel Barroetavena and Jackson Tresnan topped Walker Heffron and Graham Duncan (8-6) in the No. 3 spot. The Terriers won the No. 1 matchup with Rob Galloway and Jackson Keith fighting past Ankit Chopra and Roberto Vieira, 8-6.
 
On the singles side, after two quick straight-set wins Chattanooga pushed their lead to 3-0, Tresnan defeated Duncan (6-0, 6-1) at No. 4. Then, Peacey beat Thompson (6-1, 6-0) in the No. 6 spot. Wofford fought their way back into the match with two straight set wins of their own. 
 
At No. 1 singles, the Terriers' Galloway overpowered Vieira (6-3, 6-4), and Wood outlasted Saunders (7-5, 6-4) at the No. 5 to bring the Terriers within one, 3-2.
 
However, Wofford's comeback fell short as the Mocs claimed the final two matches to secure the 5-2 win. First, Chopra bested Keith in three sets (2-6, 6-2, 6-3) in the No. 3 spot. Then, Barroetavena survived against Superstein (6-3, 3-6, 6-2) at the No. 2 position.
 
Last year, Samford and Wofford squared off in Birmingham, Ala., and the Bulldogs earned a 6-1 victory in the SoCon opener for both teams held at the Samford Tennis Center.
 
In 2012, Samford jumped out to an early 1-0 lead by winning the doubles point. On court No. 3, the Bulldogs' combination of Fernando Costa and Carson Kadi cruised to an 8-0 victory, while Samford's Dunkle and Sajonz clinched the point on court No. 1 with an 8-4 triumph over Wofford's tandem of Tinus Van Wyk and Galloway.
 
Shortly thereafter, Samford received quick straight-set wins from Kadi, Costa and Dunkle. The Bulldogs' Kadi tallied a 6-1, 6-0 triumph on court No. 2, while Costa breezed to a 6-1, 6-1 victory in the No. 4 singles matchup. Dunkle clinched the Bulldogs' team win with a 6-4, 7-6(6) triumph on court No. 1.
 
On courts No. 3 and No. 5, Samford registered three-set singles wins from Barnwell and Sajonz. Barnwell, the Bulldogs' All-SoCon performer from Mancetter, United Kingdom, rallied for a 4-6, 6-0, 6-2 victory over the Terriers' Keith on court No. 3, while Sajonz earned a similar come-from-behind triumph over Wofford's Tom Wood in the No. 5 singles contest, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2.
 
Following Saturday's road match at Wofford, the Samford University men's tennis team will next be in action Sunday at 10 a.m. (CDT) as the Bulldogs square off against the Furman Paladins in another key SoCon contest to be held in Greenville, S.C.

Samford Media Guide