NASHVILLE, Tenn. --- The Samford University men's tennis team extended its winning streak to five-consecutive matches Friday as the Bulldogs rallied from behind for a thrilling 4-3 non-conference victory against the Belmont Bruins at the Davis Tennis Complex.
In the hard-fought win, Samford (5-1) lost the doubles point, but then fought back for four key victories in singles play to pull out the 4-3 triumph.
After Belmont (4-2) earned an early 1-0 lead by winning the doubles point, Samford then received critical singles wins from Scott Foster, Oliver Reynolds, Carson Kadi and Carl Abalos. With their victory, the Bulldogs avenged a similar 4-3 loss against the Bruins last season at home in Birmingham, Ala.
Belmont had its four-match winning streak snapped Friday. Prior to losing to Samford, the Bruins' only other defeat this season came at the hands of the 55th-ranked Vanderbilt Commodores.
In singles play Friday, all four of Samford's victories came via straight-set wins. Foster, the Bulldogs' true freshman from Athens, Ga., topped the Bruins' Joao Paoliello 6-2, 6-3 on court No. 2, while Reynolds knocked off Belmont's Renato Antun in the No. 3 singles matchup 6-3, 7-5.
On court No. 4, Samford's Kadi defeated Rafael Matos 6-2, 7-5 to improve to 2-2 when playing in the No. 4 singles matchup. The Bulldogs' fourth victory in Friday's singles play occurred on court No. 5 as Abalos rallied for a 6-3, 7-6 (3) triumph over the Bruins' Bruno Silva.
The Samford men's tennis team will next be in action Sunday at 1 p.m. (CST) as the Bulldogs continue their weekend-long road trip versus the Murray State Racers in Murray, Ky.