March 14, 2013

Men's Tennis Drops Tough Match Against No. 61 Samford, 4-3

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The UNCG men's tennis team dropped its first match this season to No. 61 Samford, 4-3, Thursday, March 14 in Birmingham, Alabama at the Samford Tennis Center.

The Spartans won two out of three doubles matches earning the match point.

At No. 3, Sophomore Cameron Smith (Jamestown, N.C./Ragsdale) and freshman Gaston Murray (Lake Worth, Fla./Park Vista) lost 8-3 to Fares Kilani and Alex Sajonz.

Freshman Daniel Mack (Lakeland, Fla./Lakeland) and junior Ahmet Sarioglu (Ankara, Turkey/METU Development Foundation) won at No. 2 against Elliot Barnwell and Austin Akers, 8-4.

Freshman James Dougherty (Melbourne, Australia) and sophomore Randy Phillips (Snellville, Ga. / Brookwood) beat No. 52 Zac Dunkle and Garrison Laduca at No. 1, 9-8 (7-3).

In singles play, Sarioglu won his match at No. 1, 6-0 as Dunkle retired due to an injury.

At No. 5, Mack fell to Akers, 6-2, 6-4, before Smith lost at No. 6, 7-5, 6-1 to Laduca.

Phillips played hard in three sets, but fell 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 to Kilani at No. 3.

At No. 2, Dougherty lost a tough 7-6 (8-3), 5-7, 6-2 match against Barnwell, before Murray picked up a win at No. 4 against Sajonz.

UNCG vs Samford Mar 14, 2013 at Birmingham, Ala. (Samford Tennis Center)

#61 Samford 4, UNCG 3

Singles Competition

1. Ahmet Sarioglu (UNCG) def. Zac Dunkle (SAM-MT) 6-0, retired

2. Elliot Barnwell (SAM-MT) def. James Dougherty (UNCG) 7-6 (8-3), 5-7, 6-2

3. Fares Kilani (SAM-MT) def. Randy Phillips (UNCG) 4-6, 6-4, 6-2

4. Gaston Murray (UNCG) def. Alex Sajonz (SAM-MT) 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (8-5)

5. Austin Akers (SAM-MT) def. Daniel Mack (UNCG) 6-2, 6-4

6. Garrison Laduca (SAM-MT) def. Cameron Smith (UNCG) 7-5, 6-1

Doubles Competition

1. James Dougherty/Randy Phillips (UNCG) def. #52 Zac Dunkle/Garrison Laduca (SAM-MT) 9-8 (7-3)

2. Daniel Mack/Ahmet Sarioglu (UNCG) def. Elliot Barnwell/Austin Akers (SAM-MT) 8-4

3. Fares Kilani/Alex Sajonz (SAM-MT) def. Cameron Smith/Gaston Murray (UNCG) 8-3

Match Notes:

UNCG 7-1, 2-1 SoCon

Samford 7-4, 2-0 SoCon; National ranking #61

Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (1,5,6,3,2,4)

T-3:54 A-63

- UNCG -