Box Score
Samford Stats
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The Samford University men's tennis team picked up some key positive momentum Wednesday by defeating the Jacksonville State Gamecocks, 5-2, in the Bulldogs' final nonconference contest before the beginning of Southern Conference play held at the Samford Tennis Center.
"I am very pleased with the way we competed and found a way to win today," said Samford head coach
Rahim Esmail. "You are not always going to play your best tennis, but in the end, you are still looking for the same outcome as if you were playing your best. Today, it was more important for us to find a way to dig out a match and find ways to get the job done. I am pleased we found a way to do that today."
With Wednesday's victory,
Samford (2-5) snapped a five-match losing streak, which featured four hard-fought losses to nationally-ranked opponents. The Bulldogs also improved to 2-2 when playing at home in the Samford Tennis Center this season.
Jacksonville State (3-4) suffered its first loss since Feb. 7, and had its three-match losing streak snapped by the Bulldogs. Heading into Wednesday's contest, the Gamecocks were coming off consecutive victories over Alabama State, Kennesaw State and Florida A&M.
Samford earned Wednesday's all-important doubles point by receiving victories on courts No. 3 and No. 1.
In the No. 3 doubles contest, the Bulldogs' combination of
Austin Akers and
Fares Kilani cruised to an 8-3 triumph over its Jacksonville State counterpart, while Samford clinched the early 1-0 lead in the match with an 8-7 (3) on court No. 1 from
Elliot Barnwell and
Trey Carter.
With their victory on court No. 3, the Bulldogs' tandem of Akers and Kilani picked up its third-consecutive win and improved to 4-2 this spring.
Samford swept the top portion of singles play Wednesday and received a dominant 6-0, 6-3 victory from
Liam Sullivan in the No. 6 matchup to earn its decisive 5-2 team triumph.
The Bulldogs' Kilani and Akers both registered lopsided straight-set wins on courts No. 2 and No. 3, respectively, while Barnwell outlasted the Gamecocks' Pedro Wagner in the highly-anticipated matchup on court No. 1, 4-6, 6-2, 7-6(2).
"We had a few decisive wins today, but in the doubles point and at No. 1 singles, we had to put in some gutsy performances to come out on top," Esmail said. "That's exactly how we want it to be. With our schedule, nothing is going to come easy and today the team was able to put forth what was needed in order to win. We now need to work that much harder as we enter conference play."
Barnwell, Samford's hardnosed native of Mancetter, United Kingdom, owns the Bulldogs' best singles record this season with a 4-3 mark in dual-match play.
The Samford University men's tennis team will next be in action March 2, as the Bulldogs begin SoCon play at home against the Appalachian State Mountaineers in a critical league showdown slated to be played at the Samford Tennis Center.
Box Score
Samford Stats
