Agate

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – The Elon University men’s tennis team came up with a key road win on Saturday, March 23, claiming a 5-2 win at Chattanooga. Winners of six straight matches, Elon improves to 10-4 with the victory and 5-0 in Southern Conference play.
 
“I’m proud of the way we played today and grinded out a win against a tough Chattanooga team,” said Elon head coach Michael Leonard. “Juan [Madrid] really stepped up today and clinched the match for us. We look forward to taking on an undefeated Samford team tomorrow.”
 
The Phoenix won all three doubles matches to take an early 1-0 advantage. The 38th-ranked tandem of Cameron Silverman and Stefan Fortmann claimed an 8-2 win against John Peacey and Ankit Chopra to give Elon momentum. Brian Kowalski and Robert Lindgren clinched the point, topping Chattanooga’s Chris Smith and Robert Vieira, 8-5, at No. 2. Juan Madrid and Jordan Kaufman also won in doubles against the Mocs.
 
Kaufman extended Elon’s lead to 2-0 at No. 4 singles after recording a 6-3, 6-4, decision versus Chris Smith. After the Mocs took the point at No. 3 singles to limit Elon to a 2-1 edge, Silverman wrapped things up at No. 1 singles with a 7-5, 6-3, win against Vieira to extend the maroon and gold’s lead to 3-1. Silverman, ranked 38th in the nation in singles, improves to 10-4 on the year and has won his last six matches.
 
Following a Mocs win at No. 2 to limit the Phoenix to a 3-2 advantage, the Phoenix extended its lead at No. 6 courtesy of Madrid to clinch the match win. Madrid registered a 6-2, 6-2, victory against Chattanooga’s Pavels Grigorjevs to push Elon out to a 4-2 lead.
 
Kowalski was the final player to finish for the Phoenix, claiming a three-set win, 4-6, 6-3, 10-8, against the Mocs’ Jackson Tresnan at No. 5 singles.
 
Elon returns to action tomorrow morning at 9:30 a.m. against Samford in Birmingham, Ala.