TAMPA, Fla. – The Samford men's tennis team battled the University of South Florida Saturday afternoon in Tampa. Despite a strong effort, the Bulldogs fell to the Bulls 5-2 at the USF Varsity Tennis Courts.
 
BOX SCORE (PDF)

With the loss, the Bulldogs are currently knotted at 6-6,  while South Florida improved to 9-2 on the season with the victory.
 
Roussow Norval and Mohammed Ali Bellalouna defeated Alvin Tudorica and Antonio Muniz 6-1 to open the match in dominant fashion at the No. 3 doubles. Samford also had a strong showing at the No. 1 doubles as Victor Chaw and Jim Hendrix won a close battle with #21 ranked doubles pair Jakub Wojcik and Rithvik Bollipalli. Chaw and Hendrix battled to a 6-6 stalemate sending the matchup into a tie break, before dominating the Bulls, winning seven-straight points to seal the doubles victory for the Bulldogs.
 
At the No. 5 singles, Tomas Santantonio improved his overall 2021 record to 8-2, winning a three-set thriller over South Florida's Alvin Tudorica with a final score of 6-4, 4-6, 10-7. Santantonio is currently on a six-match winning streak for Samford.
 
The Bulldogs will open Southern Conference play Wednesday, March 17 at 2:00 p.m. as Samford hosts the Bulldogs of The Citadel.
 
SAMFORD 2, #34 University of South Florida 5
Singles Competition
1: Chase Ferguson (USF) def. Rossouw Norval (SAM) 6-4, 6-1
2: Jakub Wojcik (USF) def. Victor Chaw (SAM) 6-3, 2-6, 6-4
3: Ivan Yatsuk (USF) def. Eladio Fabregas (SAM) 7-6 (0-6), 6-0
4: Sergio Gomez Montesa (USF) def. Jim Hendrix 6-1, 6-0
5: Tomas Santantonio (SAM) def. Alvin Tudorica (USF) 6-4, 4-6, 10-7
6: Rithvik Bollipalli (USF) def. Mohammed Ali Bellalouna (SAM) 6-2, 6-0
 
Doubles Results
1: Victor Chaw/Jim Hendrix (SAM) def. #21 Jakub Wojcik/Rithvik Bollipalli (USF) 7-6 (0-7)
2: #38 Chase Ferguson/Pierre Luquet (USF) def. Tomas Santantonio/Eladio Fabregas (SAM) 6-3
3: Rossouw Norval/Mohammed Ali Bellalouna (SAM) def. Alvin Tudorica/Antonio Muniz (USF) 6-1
 
 
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