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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The No. 69-ranked Samford University men's tennis team faced its fourth nationally-ranked opponent of the young 2014 dual-match season Sunday as the Bulldogs suffered a 6-1 setback against the No. 73 Tulane Green Wave in a Southern Region contest held at the Samford Tennis Center.
"Today was a tough match and Tulane was just that much better than us today," said Samford head coach
Rahim Esmail. "We are aware of the adjustments that we need to make as a team and now it is our responsibility to grow and rise to those challenges."
With Sunday's loss,
Samford (1-5) moved to 1-2 this season when playing at home. After earning a 5-1 season-opening victory against Mercer, the Bulldogs have dropped consecutive matches to UTSA, 4-3, and
Tulane (6-2), 6-1, at the Samford Tennis Center.
Four of the Bulldogs' five losses this season have come against nationally-ranked opponents. Samford has already faced an extremely tough schedule in 2014 and has suffered defeats to No. 9-ranked Mississippi State, No. 46 Elon, No. 56 Indiana and No. 73 Tulane.
In Sunday's showdown between two of the top-ranked teams in the Southern Region, the Green Wave escaped with the all-important doubles point by hanging on for victories on courts No. 1 and No. 2.
Samford's tandem of
Fares Kilani and
Austin Akers tallied a quick 8-3 triumph in the No. 3 doubles contest, but then Tulane's combinations on No. 1 and No. 2 earned close victories of 8-6 and 8-4, respectively.
In singles play, the Green Wave was able to record wins on five of the six courts to give Tulane its final 6-1 victory.
Samford's win occurred on court No. 3 as Akers outlasted the Green Wave's Jao Chi-Shan, 6-4, 4-6, 10-8. With the triumph, the Bulldogs' junior from Lexington, Ky., improved to 2-3 in singles play this season.
"Austin did a great job today in both singles and doubles," Esmail said. "He came to play, and his will to win was what got him through his matches today. We need him to continue to compete with that same mentality as today in order for us to be successful. We are looking forward to Wednesday, as it is another opportunity to compete and get better."
The Samford University men's tennis team will next be in action Wednesday as the Bulldogs continue play in their four-match homestand against the Jacksonville State Gamecocks in an in-state duel to be held at the Samford Tennis Center.
Box Score
Samford Stats
