Box Score
Samford StatsBIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The Samford University men's tennis team won the doubles point Wednesday against the Jacksonville State Gamecocks, but couldn't carry over its momentum to singles play as the Bulldogs were upended, 4-3, in a hard-fought, dual-match contest held at the Samford Tennis Center.
Samford (0-3) will next be in action Saturday as the Bulldogs return to the road to face the Georgia State Panthers in another critical non-conference matchup.
On Wednesday, Samford jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the match by earning the doubles point. On court No. 3, the Bulldogs' combination of
Fares Kilani and
Eduardo Lourido Sanchez blanked Jacksonville State's duo comprised of Mathias Chaim and Felipe Wenzel, 6-0, while Samford's tandem of
Austin Akers and
Henry Moore clinched the point with a 6-2 victory on court No. 2.
"We came out well in the doubles, taking control on court No. 3 and playing solid on court No. 2 to close things out," said Samford head coach
Rahim Esmail. "We didn't translate any momentum into the singles play. We let them get into the match early on all singles courts and that gave them a boost. We gave them way too much today, and that was a major difference in the match and in the end result."
In singles play,
Jacksonville State (3-4) jumped out to early leads on all six courts by winning every first set.
The Bulldogs were able to battle back for victories on courts No. 1 and No. 6, but the Gamecocks held on for straight-set wins on the middle four matchups to claim the 4-3 decision.
Samford's Kilani, who proved to be triumphant in both doubles and singles play, rallied back to defeat Jacksonville State on court No. 1, 3-6, 6-2, 6-3, while freshman
Jake Faundez battled from behind to topple Wenzel in the No. 6 singles matchup, 5-7, 6-4, 1-0 (9).
Wednesday's contest marked the Bulldogs' first home match of the 2015 season. Samford opened the year with back-to-back road losses against nationally-ranked opponents in No. 36 Alabama and No. 28 Mississippi State.
The Samford University men's tennis team will next be in action Saturday at 3 p.m. (CST) as the Bulldogs return to the road for a critical non-conference test against the Georgia State Panthers to be held at the Atlanta Athletic Club in Atlanta, Georgia.
Box Score
Samford Stats
