Men's Tennis Looks To Build On Momentum Versus ULL

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The Samford University men's tennis team will continue its three-match homestand Saturday at 10 a.m. (CDT) as the Bulldogs welcome the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns to the Samford Tennis Center for a pivotal nonconference showdown.

Samford (3-7) heads into the contest with a full head of steam after breezing to a 6-1 home victory over former Ohio Valley Conference-foe Eastern Kentucky on Thursday.

The Bulldogs rallied to claim the all-important doubles point versus the Colonels and garnered an early 1-0 advantage in the match.

Despite losing the No. 1 doubles contest, 8-5, the Bulldogs bounced back to record victories on courts No. 2 and No. 3. In the No. 3 matchup, Samford's combination of Austin Akers and Fares Kilani tallied a key 8-4 triumph, while the Bulldogs' tandem of Elliot Barnwell and Liam Sullivan posted a decisive 8-5 win over the Colonels' combination of Sebastian Mueller and Diego Asis on court No. 2.

Samford dominated singles play Thursday, while Eastern Kentucky's lone victory of day occurred at court No. 5 where Florian Graskamp notched a 6-3, 7-6 (5) win.

The Bulldogs proved to be triumphant on courts No. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6; three of which were registered in straight sets.

On court No. 1, Samford's Barnwell cruised to a dominant, 6-2, 6-2, victory over the Colonels' Alex Alvaro. With his victory, the Bulldogs' senior native of Mancetter, United Kingdom, improved to 6-4 in dual-match play this season.

Also winning Thursday were Kilani, Akers, Sullivan and Trey Carter. In the No. 6 singles match, Samford's Sullivan improved to 4-5 in singles play this season with a 6-2, 7-6 (4) victory over Eastern Kentucky's Asis.

Louisiana-Lafayette (10-4), which is slated to play at UAB on Friday, heads to Birmingham with aspirations of bouncing back from a hard-fought 4-3 loss to No. 55-ranked George Washington on Monday.

Sophomore Hunter Johnson is a perfect 7-0 record in singles play this spring, while Damian Farinola and Edgar Lopez have a team-best eight wins in doubles this year.

Last season, Samford and Louisiana-Lafayette squared off in Lafayette, La., as the Bulldogs dropped a heartbreaking 4-3 decision on the road.

The Ragin' Cajuns swept the doubles competition and then received three singles victories on courts No. 1, No. 5 and No. 2 to clinch the team win.

Samford registered singles triumphs from Kilani, Alex Sajonz and Garrison Laduca, but couldn't overcome Louisiana-Lafayette's decisive 4-0 advantage. Despite the Bulldogs' three singles victories, they fell short in a final 4-3 nonconference decision.

Kilani earned a hard-fought 7-6(5), 7-6(5) win on court No. 3, while Sajonz breezed to a 6-2, 7-5 victory over the Ragin' Cajuns' Johnson in the No. 4 singles matchup.

The Bulldogs' final singles victory occurred on court No. 6 where Laduca outlasted Louisiana-Lafayette's Hunter Goertz, 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(5). With his three-set triumph, Samford's Laduca improved to 5-6 in singles play this season and earned his third straight victory.

Following Saturday's nonconference matchup with Louisiana-Lafayette, the Samford University men's tennis team will next be in action March 22 at 1 p.m. (CDT) as the Bulldogs conclude their three-match homestand against the Davidson Wildcats in a key Southern Conference contest to be held at the Samford Tennis Center.

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