BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The Samford University men's tennis team will begin play in a key three-match homestand Thursday at 3 p.m. (CDT) as the Bulldogs square off against the Eastern Kentucky Colonels in a nonconference contest to be held at the Samford Tennis Center.
 
Samford (2-7) heads into the contest looking to rebound from a tough road defeat at No. 46-ranked Elon on Saturday as the Southern Conference foes battled in an early league showdown held at the Jimmy Powell Tennis Center.
 
With their loss, the Bulldogs moved to 0-4 when playing away from home this season. The defeat was also Samford's second against nationally-ranked Elon.
 
The Bulldogs have faced an extremely tough schedule this season, which has included five matches against nationally-ranked opponents. Already in its 2014 campaign, Samford has faced No. 9 Mississippi State, No. 46 Elon twice, No. 56 Indiana and the 73^rd-ranked Tulane Green Wave.
 
Eastern Kentucky (6-5) also enters Thursday's nonconference matchup looking to bounce back from a hard-fought conference loss. On Sunday, the Colonels played on the road at Jacksonville State and dropped a 5-2 decision versus the Gamecocks.
 
From Feb. 8 through Feb. 21, Eastern Kentucky rattled off four-consecutive victories against Wright State, University of the Cumberlands, Cumberland and Lindsey Wilson College.
 
Since then, the Colonels have compiled a 1-2 mark with a win over Pikeville College and difficult losses to Kennesaw State and Jacksonville State.
 
Last season, Samford and Eastern Kentucky squared off in the dual-match season as the Bulldogs breezed to a 7-0 victory against their former Ohio Valley Conference rival.
 
Samford cruised to the doubles point with victories on courts No. 1 and No. 2. In the No. 1 doubles matchup, the Bulldogs' No. 36-ranked combination of Zac Dunkle and Garrison Laduca earned an 8-1 victory, while Samford's No. 2 duo comprised of Elliot Barnwell and Austin Akers defeated Eastern Kentucky's Daridge Saidi and Joao Maio, 8-2.
 
Samford swept all six singles against the Colonels last season. The Bulldogs' Dunkle, Barnwell, Fares Kilani and Akers all won in straight sets.
 
Samford's Alex Sajonz and Laduca both won in three-set matches. Sajonz defeated Eastern Kentucky's Lucas Smets, 6-3, 5-7, 1-0(7) on court No. 4, while Laduca rallied for a 3-6, 6-3, 6-1 triumph over the Colonels' Florian Graskamp in the No. 6 singles matchup.
 
The Samford University men's tennis team will next be in action Thursday at 3 p.m. (CDT) as the Bulldogs return home to Birmingham, Ala., to face the Eastern Kentucky Colonels in a nonconference showdown to be held at the Samford Tennis Center.