BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The Samford University men's tennis team will compete in just its second home match of the 2015 spring season Wednesday at 2 p.m. (CST) as the Bulldogs square off against the UAB Blazers in a key intra-city showdown to be held at the Samford Tennis Center.
Samford (0-4) heads into the contest looking to earn its first victory of the young 2015 campaign. The Bulldogs opened the season with back-to-back road losses to No. 36 Alabama and No. 28 Mississippi State before dropping a disappointing 4-3 decision against Jacksonville State on Feb. 11.
In its most recent outing, Samford moved to 0-3 in road matches Saturday as the Bulldogs suffered a 5-1 loss to the Georgia State Panthers in a non-conference contest held at Piedmont Park in Atlanta, Georgia.
Samford came up short in the doubles point and fell behind early to Georgia State by a count of 1-0. In singles play, the Bulldogs'
Jake Faundez breezed past the Panthers' Felipe Jaworski, 6-4, 6-0, on court No. 6 to earn the team's lone point of the match.
With the win, Faundez improved to 2-1 in singles play this season. Georgia State picked up its 5-1 team victory by tallying straight-set wins on courts No. 2-6.
UAB (2-3) enters Wednesday's contest with a full head of steam after claiming a 4-1 victory over Jacksonville State on Feb. 8. In their win, which was held at the Lakeshore Tennis Center, the Blazers tallied the doubles point by capturing wins at courts No. 2 and No. 3.
In singles play, UAB earned quick victories at three positions before play was halted following the Blazers' clinching the fourth point of the match.
In doubles, UAB's Christian Coetzee and Donovan McSeveney teamed up to defeat Jacksonville State's combination of Dylan Gee and Jaryd Reese, 7-6, at the No. 2 spot. The Blazers' Christopher Egan Morris and Henry Paiste then took care of the Gamecock duo comprised of Mathias Chaim and Felipe Wenzel at No. 3, 6-4.
UAB's Mitchell Martell (No. 1), Coetzee (No. 3) and Stepan Vancurik (No. 5) were also winners in singles play to help seal the victory for the Blazers. McSeveney was leading his match at No. 2 singles while Luiz Felipe Pinto was up a set and in a second set tie breaker at the No. 4 singles position.
Jacksonville State earned its only point in the match with a win at No. 6 singles as Wenzel defeated Oliver Poysti, 6-4, 6-3.
Following Wednesday's cross-town showdown with the UAB Blazers, the Samford University men's tennis team will next be in action Saturday at 3 p.m. (CST) as the Bulldogs welcome the Lipscomb Bison to the Samford Tennis Center for another pivotal non-conference contest.
