Samford 7, Jackson State 0
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The Samford University men's tennis team picked up its third positive result in its last four outings Saturday as the Bulldogs cruised to a 7-0 triumph over the Jackson State Tigers in their inaugural "Power of Pink" match held at the Samford Tennis Center.
"I like how our team responded today after the doubles point," said Samford head coach Rahim Esmail. "There were some things during the doubles point that we could have done better, and we were able to accomplish that today in the singles."
Samford (5-6) improved to 3-3 in home contests this year and tallied its third victory in eight days. After an 0-4 start to the dual-match season, the Bulldogs have been triumphant in five of their last seven outings.
Three of Samford's six losses in 2015 have come against the following nationally-ranked opponents: No. 27 Kentucky, No. 28 Mississippi State and No. 36 Alabama.
Jackson State (2-12) suffered its second straight defeat in the state of Alabama on Saturday.
On Sunday, the Tigers played at Alabama and dropped a 4-0 decision to the Crimson Tide. Jackson State opened its 2015 dual-match season with 10 straight losses, before defeating Alcorn State, 6-1, and Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Feb. 28.
On Saturday, the Bulldogs cruised to their 7-0 victory by claiming the initial doubles point and then sweeping all six singles matches in straight sets.
In doubles play, Samford's combination of Austin Akers and Henry Moore rolled to an 8-1 victory on court No. 2, while Fares Kilani and Eduardo Lourido Sanchez blanked their Tiger counterparts, 8-0, in the No. 3 matchup. The Bulldogs' Kilani and Lourido Sanchez extended their winning streak to four-consecutive matches and own a 6-3 record in dual-match play.
Justin Ghavami, Samford's highly-touted true freshman from Montreal, Canada, registered his sixth-consecutive victory in singles play on court No. 4 this season. He now holds a solid 6-4 record in dual matches.
Fellow freshman Jake Faundez notched his fifth straight singles win Saturday and improved his dual-match record to 7-2 this season.
"We need to keep enjoying the process of getting better each day and embracing and enjoying the challenges ahead of us," Esmail said. "We're definitely looking forward to starting conference play next week."
UAB 4, Furman 2
GREENVILLE, S.C. – UAB topped Furman, 4-2, Saturday in men’s tennis action at the Mickel Tennis Center in Greenville, S.C.
The Paladins won two of three doubles matches to clinch the opening point. Juniors Ben Horst and Matt Browne defeated Luiz Felipe Pinto and Mitchell Martell, 6-4, at flight one, and freshman Cameron Green and sophomore Adam Steryous beat Donovan McSeveney and Christian Coetzee, 6-4, at number two. The flight three match was unfinished.
In singles play, Christopher Morris downed senior Luke Synn, 6-1, 6-3, at flight six to even the score, then senior Jacob Behal put Furman back on top with a 6-1, 6-2 victory over Olive Poysti at flight five. McSeveney beat Browne, 7-6(2), 6-7(5), 6-4 at number two to tie the score at 2-2, but UAB captured close matches at flights three and four for the team win. Felipe Pinto came from behind for a 3-6, 7-6(4), 7-5 win over Green at number three, and Coetzee outlasted Horst, 6-1, 6-7(4), 6-4, at number four.
The top-flighted match was unfinished. Martell picked up a 6-4 win in set one, but Steryous returned with a 7-6(3) victory in set two. The third set was tied at two games apiece when the match was called.
Furman (2-11) will compete at the USF Invite in Tampa, Fla., March 13-15.
Winthrop 4, UNCG 3
GREENSBORO, N.C. –The UNCG men’s tennis team battled but dropped a 4-3 match to Winthrop Saturday at the UNCG Tennis Courts.
The Spartans fall to 4-3 on the season and Winthrop improves to 6-4 with the victory.
In doubles, Winthrop took a 1-0 lead after winning two of three doubles matches. Steven Patrick and Tremayne Mitchell defeated redshirt sophomore William Albright and sophomore Warren Bryan, 8-5.
Freshman Connor Thompson and senior Randy Phillips defeated Dylan Comerford and Peter Nagovnak, 8-6 at No. 1 doubles.
At No. 3 doubles, Michael Chen and Joshua Ryan clinched the doubles point with a 8-7 (7-4) win against freshman James Gray and Logan Walker.
In singles, Comerford gave Winthrop a 2-0 lead after a straight sets win against junior Daniel Mack, 6-2, 6-1, at No. 2 singles.
Albright cut the lead to 2-1 after taking down Ryan, 6-3, 6-3 at No. 6 singles. Phillips tied the match with a close 6-2, 7-6 (7-5) victory at No. 1 singles against Mitchell.
The Eagles took a 3-2 lead after Chen defeated Thompson, 7-6 (7-4), 6-2 at No. 4 singles. Winthrop clinched the match after Nagovnak defeated Bryan, 6-2, 2-6, 6-2 at No. 5 singles.
In the final match, senior Cameron Smith won a third set thriller against Patrick, 4-6, 6-4, 1-0 (11-9). Smith won the second set 6-4 and won the third set super tiebreaker 11-9 to claim the third overall point for UNCG.