Samford Edges Elon For Men's Tennis Title

Samford 4, Elon 3

Box Score

ELON, N.C. – Zac Dunkle’s three-set victory over Cameron Silverman at No. 1 singles gave the Samford Bulldogs a 4-3 win over Elon in the title match of the 2013 Southern Conference Men’s Tennis Tournament Sunday afternoon.  Dunkle won the first set 6-4, but Silverman evened the match with a 7-5 victory in the second set.  Dunkle, an Atlanta native, came away with a 6-3 win in the third set to clinch the title for the Bulldogs. 

Sunday’s win gives Samford its second tournament title in three years as the Bulldogs capture the 2011 Southern Conference Tournament in Chattanooga, Tenn.  The Bulldogs won four of six singles matches in a tilt that featured the top two seeds in the field.

Elon (17-8) jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the match by winning the doubles point as the Phoenix picked up victories at No. 1 and No. 3 doubles.  Juan Madrid and Jordan Kaufman topped Fares Kilani and Alex Sajonz (8-4) at No. 3 before Cameron Silverman and Stefan Fortmann came away with an 8-3 decision over Zac Dunkle and Elliot Barnwell at No. 1 doubles.

Samford (15-9) pulled even in the match when Barnwell knocked off Fortmann at No. 2 singles (6-2, 6-2).  The Phoenix pulled ahead 2-1 minutes later when Kaufman secured a 6-3, 6-3 win at No. 4 singles over Sajonz.

The Bulldogs won the next two matches to take a 3-2 lead.  Austin Akers downed Brian Kowalski 6-3, 6-4 at No. 5 singles, while Kilani bested Robert Lindgren (6-4, 6-4) at the No. 3 position.

Madrid pulled the Phoenix even at 3-3 with a three-set victory over Garrison Laduca (5-7, 6-2, 6-1).