SPARTANBURG, S.C. - Samford's Carl Abalos has been named the Southern Conference Men's Tennis Player of the Week for all matches played through February 13.  Abalos has started the season 4-0 in both singles and doubles play.  The Bulldogs have opened the season 4-1.

A native of Woodstock, Ga., Abalos has not dropped a set in singles play this season.  He began the year competing at No. 4 singles and posted wins over Alabama-Huntsville's Bruno Medeiros (6-2, 6-1) and Georgia State's Juan Pablo Gutierrez (6-3, 6-0).  Abalos then moved up to No. 3 singles and picked up wins over Nenad Marcec of Jacksonville State (6-2, 6-3) and UNC Asheville's Matt Waissen (7-6, 6-3). 

Abalos has teamed with Oliver Reynolds at No. 1 doubles and the duo has a 4-0 mark.  They have a pair of 8-1 victories over UNC Asheville and Alabama-Huntsville.  Abalos and Reynolds earned an 8-6 win over Victor Valente and Breon Badger of Georgia State and held off Jacksonville State's Gustavo Holtz and Brian Kenyon, 9-7

Other top performers in the Southern Conference included Appalachian State's Alex Markov, Davidson's Joe Schafer, Elon's Eric Turner, Georgia Southern's Juan Manuel Melian Puigventos, UNCG's Chanon Varapongsittikul, and Wofford's Oliver Reynolds.

SoCon Men's Tennis Player of the Week
Feb. 15 - Carl Abalos, Samford