College of Charleston 5, Samford 2
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. --- The Samford University men's tennis team's six-match winning streak came to an end Monday as the Bulldogs dropped a 5-2 decision against the College of Charleston Cougars in their Southern Conference opener held at the Samford Tennis Center.
With the loss, Samford (6-2, 0-1 SoCon) suffered its first defeat since a season-opening setback versus Georgia State on Feb. 6. The Bulldogs entered Monday's match boasting consecutive wins against Columbus State, University of New Orleans, Gadsden State, Jacksonville State, Belmont and Murray State.
College of Charleston (4-2, 2-0 SoCon) extended its winning streak to two straight matches. Prior to defeating Samford on Monday, the Cougars also earned a SoCon triumph over Chattanooga on Saturday, 6-1.
College of Charleston won the doubles point Monday and then received singles victories on courts No. 2, No. 4, No. 5 and No. 6.
Samford's two points came on singles courts No. 1 and No. 3. The Bulldogs' true freshman Zac Dunkle upended the Cougars' Lucas Koncilia in the No. 1 singles contest 6-2, 4-6, 10-1, while junior Oliver Reynolds extended his personal winning streak to six-consecutive victories with a 7-5, 6-3 triumph against Tom Delme on court No. 3. Reynolds owns a stellar 6-1 record in singles play this season.
In doubles play, Samford's combination of Carl Abalos and Reynolds earned its fourth straight victory with an 8-4 win on court No. 1. The Bulldogs' duo is now 4-1 at the No. 1 doubles position this year.
Georgia 6, Furman 1
ATHENS, Ga. -- The ninth-ranked Georgia men's tennis team defeated #65 Furman, 6-1, Monday afternoon in Athens, Ga. Paladin senior Chris Rhyne defeated Will Oliver 6-4, 6-2 in the number six singles match to score Furman's lone point of the match.
The Bulldogs won all three doubles matches to open the match and take the doubles point. Nat Schnugg and Christian Vitulli defeated seniors Chris Motes and Rhyne 8-1 at number one doubles, while Jamie Hunt and Javier Garrapiz recorded an 8-4 win over junior Sawyer Duncan and freshman Andrew Mellow at number two doubles. Alex Hill and Will Reynolds defeated freshman Robert Bruner and senior Jordan Walters 8-7(5) at number three doubles.
In singles action, #104 Schnugg defeated Duncan 6-3, 7-6(4) in the number one singles spot, and #12 Garrapiz recorded a 6-2, 6-1 win over Motes at number two singles. Hunt posted a 6-4, 6-0 win over Walters in the number three singles position, and Drake Bernstein defeated Mellow 6-3, 6-1 at number four singles. Vitulli defeated Droll 6-1, 6-0 in the fifth singles match.
Furman (3-6, 1-0 SoCon) will play at Georgia Southern on March 10 at 2:30 p.m.