BOX SCORE

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The Samford men's tennis team earned a 4-0 victory over Kennesaw State in the team's home opener Friday afternoon at the Samford Tennis Complex.
 
"The team did a great job today to get this win," Samford head coach Rahim Esmail said. "The score is deceiving because the matches were a lot closer and the intensity and energy level was very high throughout. We knew it had to be that way from us because they are a good team and if we did not compete at that level today on game day, this match could have been a lot closer score wise."
 
Samford won the doubles point, taking two of the three matches. Trey Carter and Leonard Gerch defeated David Durham and Drew Wendel, 6-2 at the No. 1 doubles position. At the No. 2 spot, KSU's Simon Pritchard and Jorge Wilton defeated Samford's Fares Kilani and Justin Ghavami, 6-4. The Bulldogs earned the doubles point when Jake Faundez and Eduardo Lourido Sanchez earned a 7-6 (2) win over Manuel Castellanos and Alejandro Valencia.
 
"The keys to the match today that made us successful were closing out that doubles point, closing out first sets, and getting good starts to our second sets," Esmail said. "We did a great job on those first three singles courts building on the momentum early in second sets and getting up a break right away. We are looking forward to getting back to work and preparing for our next competition."
 
Samford pushed its lead to 2-0 when Ghavami defeated Valencia, 6-4, 6-2 at the No. 3 singles position. Kilani then defeated Pritchard, 6-4, 6-2 for Samford to take a 3-0 lead. The Bulldog secured the win when Carter defeated Castellanos, 7-6 (1), 6-2 at the No. 2 position.
 
"After a tough loss to Alabama, with results not being indicative of our overall performance, our team realized this week that the season is a constant process of rebuilding and growing," Carter said. "There is a direct correlation between positive energy and positive results and today we had both."
 
With the win, Samford improves to 1-1 on the young season. Kennesaw State drops to 0-1 with the loss.
 
Samford will return to action on Feb. 6, when the Bulldogs play at Mississippi State. The match is set for a 12 p.m. start from Starkville, Miss.
 
Samford 4, Kennesaw State 0
 
Singles competition
1. Fares Kilani (SAM-M) def. Simon Pritchard (KSU) 6-4, 6-2
2. Trey Carter (SAM-M) def. Manuel Castellanos (KSU) 7-6, 6-2
3. Justin Ghavami (SAM-M) def. Alejandro Valencia (KSU) 6-4, 6-2
4. Leonard Gerch (SAM-M) vs. Sam Slade (KSU) unfinished
5. Eduardo L. Sanchez (SAM-M) vs. David Durham (KSU) unfinished
6. Jake Faundez (SAM-M) vs. Lucas de Torres Cuth (KSU) unfinished
 
Doubles competition
1. Trey Carter/Leonard Gerch (SAM-M) def. David Durham/Drew Wendel (KSU) 6-2
2. Simon Pritchard/Jorge Wilton (KSU) def. Fares Kilani/Justin Ghavami (SAM-M) 6-4
3. Jake Faundez/Eduardo L. Sanchez (SAM-M) def. Manuel Castellanos/Alejandro Valencia (KSU) 7-6