Box Score
Samford Stats

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Despite competing a man-down with just five players, the battle-tested Samford University men's tennis team grappled its way to a thrilling 4-3 Southern Conference victory Saturday over the Davidson Wildcats in a key league contest held at the Samford Tennis Center.
 
"We found a way to win today, and we should be very happy as a team that we were able to come through and get the job done," said Samford head coach Rahim Esmail. "It was an absolute team effort and I am proud of the way we fought. Every day that we compete for the rest of this season, it is going to be a battle and nothing will be given to us, nor will it come easy. We need to continue to commit to finding an extra gear to get the job done like we did today."
 
With the overall score of the match knotted at 3-3, all attention turned to court No. 5 where true freshman Liam Sullivan of Samford (4-8, 1-2 SoCon) was squaring off against Alex Howard of Davidson (3-12, 0-4 SoCon) in the final singles contest of the day.
 
Sullivan, the Bulldogs' talented native of Richmond, Va., lost the first set, 6-4, but then rallied back to topple Howard in the final two stanzas, 6-4, 7-5. With Sullivan's clutch, three-set triumph, Samford clinched the overall team victory, 4-3, while he improved to 5-6 in singles play this season.
 
The Bulldogs' win Saturday snapped a two-match SoCon losing streak and proved to be Samford's fourth home victory of the 2014 campaign.
 
Samford has been triumphant in two of its last three outings and will next be in action Monday at The Citadel in a pivotal road SoCon test.
 
On Saturday, the Bulldogs dropped the doubles point and then quickly fell behind, 2-0, as they were forced to forfeit the No. 6 singles matchup.
 
Despite its early disadvantage, Samford never wavered and then cruised to straight-set victories on courts No. 1 and No. 2 from Elliot Barnwell and Fares Kilani, respectively. Barnwell defeated Davidson's Robert Lightbourn, 6-2, 7-6 (4), while Kilani disheartened the Wildcats' Connor Evins, 7-6 (5), 6-2, on court No. 2.
 
Barnwell improved to 7-5 in singles play this season as Kilani moved to 6-6 in dual-match play.
 
"We did a great job up top today at courts No. 1 and No. 2," Esmail said. "Elliot got off to a great start and closed it out in a tough second set. Fares winning the first set was very key, not just for him, but for the rest of the team. He gained a lot of momentum after the first set and picked up his level in the third set."
 
Another huge win for the Bulldogs Saturday occurred on court No. 4 where Samford's Trey Carter outlasted Davidson's J.B. Gough, 6-3, 2-6, 6-2. With his victory, Carter kept the Bulldogs' hopes alive in the match and set up his teammate Sullivan for the final triumph.
 
Samford's Carter owns a 4-8 record in dual-match play this season.
 
"Trey and Liam both did a great job of finding ways to win in a tough third set which can go either way," said Esmail. "Liam showed great composure at the end of his match and focused on the process, not the outcome, and was able to play some solid tennis at the end. We are looking forward to our next challenge this week on the road."
 
The Samford University men's tennis team will next be in action Monday at 2 p.m. (CDT) as the Bulldogs head to Charleston, S.C., for another key SoCon matchup versus The Citadel Bulldogs to be held at the O. Perry Earle, Jr. Tennis Center & Donald C. Bunch Courts.

Box Score
Samford Stats