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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The Samford University men's tennis team had its two-match Southern Conference winning streak snapped Friday as the Bulldogs dropped a 5-2 league decision at home against the Furman Paladins in a key conference matchup held at the Samford Tennis Center.
 
"We came up a little short today in the end, but I can't ask for much more out of my team in regards to the way they fought and competed," said Samford head coach Rahim Esmail. "We have had our backs up against the wall, but we did things today that when the opportunity comes, we will give ourselves a chance to succeed. Win or lose, today made us a better team, and this match will help us at the end of the season as we grow."
 
Samford (5-9, 2-3 SoCon), which has been playing a man-down lately with an injury to redshirt freshman Henry Moore, dropped the doubles point Friday and then suffered losses in four of the six singles contests.
 
Due to a shortage of healthy players, the Bulldogs were forced to forfeit the No. 6 singles contest as Furman (10-7, 4-0 SoCon) also picked up victories on courts No. 2, 3 and 5. With their four wins in singles play, the Paladins secured the 5-2 team triumph.
 
Samford's singles victories occurred on courts No. 1 and No. 4. In the No. 1 singles contest, the Bulldogs' Elliot Barnwell topped Furman's Adam Steryous, 7-5, 7-5. With his win, Barnwell improved his singles record on the season to 9-5.
 
On court No. 4, Samford's Trey Carter breezed past the Paladins' Joel Cook, 6-4, 6-2. Carter is in the midst of a three-match winning streak and upped his dual-match record on the season to 6-8.
 
"There wasn't one match that was played today where we didn't have chances to win, including the doubles point," Esmail said. "They are a good team and competed hard today. Elliot put up a valiant effort today, and pulled out a gutsy win up top. Trey played one of his best matches all season and brought tremendous energy that circulated across the courts. We are looking forward to our next challenge and competing again on Sunday."
 
The Samford University men's tennis team will next be in action Sunday at 1 p.m. (CDT) as the Bulldogs continue their two-match league homestand against the Wofford Terriers to be held at the Samford Tennis Complex.

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