Furman 5, Appalachian State 2
GREENVILLE, S.C. – The Furman men’s tennis team extended its winning streak to three matches with a 5-2 win over Appalachian State Wednesday at the Mickel Tennis Center in Greenville, S.C.
The Mountaineers (4-12, 2-5 SoCon) swept the doubles matches to clinch the opening point. Sebastien King and Zach Bost teamed up for an 8-6 win over junior Alex Christ and freshman Matt Browne in the top spot, and Andrew McKinnon and Jen-Willem Kleynhans beat sophomore Jacob Behal and senior Tyler Droll, 9-8(7-4) at number two. Steve Lake combined with Steve Karendal to defeat senior Andrew Mellow and sophomore Luke Synn, 8-6, at flight three.
The Paladins (6-12, 3-4 SoCon) stormed back in singles play, winning the top five matches for the team victory. Mellow notched a 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 advantage over King at flight one, and Christ came from behind for a 3-6, 6-0, 6-4 victory versus Karendal at number two. Brown topped Bost, 6-3, 6-0, in the flight four contest, and Behal posted a 7-5, 6-2 win over McKinnon at number four. At flight five, Synn bested Matt Saltsgave, 6-1, 6-1.
Kleynhans recorded Appalachian State’s lone singles point, defeating Droll, 2-6, 7-6, 6-4, at number six.
Samford 7, Chattanooga 0
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Samford University men’s tennis team extended its winning streak to three-consecutive matches Wednesday as the Bulldogs cruised to a 7-0 Southern Conference triumph against the Chattanooga Mocs in a Southern Rail Rivalry contest held at the Samford Tennis Center.
With its shutout win, Samford (10-7, 5-1 SoCon) continued its stellar play at home this season and improved to 7-2 when competing in Birmingham. The second-place Bulldogs also tallied their third straight conference victory and moved to 5-1 in SoCon play this year.
Since dropping a hard-fought 5-2 decision to first-place Elon on March 24, Samford has posted consecutive league victories against Davidson, 7-0, Appalachian State, 4-3, and Chattanooga (8-8, 3-4 SoCon), 7-0.
In Wednesday’s lopsided triumph, the Bulldogs were winners on courts No. 2 and No. 3 to secure the all-important doubles point.
Samford then built upon its early 1-0 advantage and reeled off six-consecutive, straight-set victories in singles play to record its fourth shutout win of the 2013 season. The Bulldogs’ victors in singles play Wednesday were Zac Dunkle, Elliot Barnwell, Fares Kilani, Alex Sajonz, Austin Akers and Garrison Laduca.
Dunkle, Samford’s senior All-SoCon standout from Atlanta, extended his winning streak to four-consecutive matches as he posted a 6-3, 6-4 triumph over the Mocs’ Roberto Vieira on court No. 1. With the win, Dunkle improved to 9-6 in dual-match play this season and remained undefeated against SoCon opponents at 5-0.
The Bulldogs’ Akers and Barnwell both reached the 11-win mark Wednesday with respective straight-set victories over their Chattanooga counterparts on courts No. 4 and No. 2. Akers, Samford’s sophomore transfer from the University of Wisconsin, moved to 11-5 this season, while Barnwell improved to 11-6.
College of Charleston 5, The Citadel 2
MT. PLEASANT, S.C. – The College of Charleston men’s tennis team won its eighth match in a row this evening by defeating cross-town Southern Conference rival The Citadel 5-2 at the College of Charleston Tennis Center at Patriots Point.
With the victory The College’s record improves to 10-6 with a 5-2 mark in the SoCon. The Citadel falls to 7-11, 0-8 in the SoCon.
The Cougars got off to a great start in doubles, winning all three matches. Senior Billy Kenny has now won two doubles matches in a row after coming back from an injury. Kenny and sophomore Sebastian Lopez rolled over Peter Bleach and Alex Howle with an 8-1 score on Court 2.
Lopez stayed hot in singles when he overcame Dillon Berkabile of the Bulldogs with a 6-2, 6-1 victory on Court 2.
Sophomore Charlie Ghriskey won his fifth match in a row when he took down Oliver Dedding 6-4, 6-3 of the Citadel on Court 4.
Alon Faiman also claimed a 6-4, 6-2 victory on Court 5 before freshman Zack Lewis closed out the match with a 6-0 6-4 win over Jackson Pride on Court 6.