Agate

ELON, N.C. – It came down to one final match, but the top-seeded Elon University men’s tennis team fell just short of capturing the 2013 Southern Conference Men’s Tennis title, falling 4-3 to second-seeded Samford on Sunday, April 21, at the Jimmy Powell Tennis Center.
 
Tied at 3-all, only Elon’s Cameron Silverman, ranked 59th in the nation, and Samford’s Zac Dunkle remained on the court at No. 1 singles. With Dunkle leading after winning the first set, 6-4, Silverman battled back to claim a hard-fought 7-5 win in the second. Silverman trailed early on, but came back strong to even it up and force a final set for the league title. But Dunkle rallied back in the third, taking a 6-3 decision to win the match and give the Bulldogs the championship.
 
Elon concludes its 2013 campaign with a 17-8 record, while Samford improves to 15-9 with the win and earns the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
 
The Phoenix came out of the gates on fire, winning the doubles point to take a 1-0 lead.
 
Juan Madrid and Jordan Kaufman pushed Elon halfway to the doubles point, as the No. 3 duo claimed an 8-5 win against Samford’s Fares Kilani and Alex Sajonz. The 36th-ranked tandem of Silverman and Stefan Fortmann clinched the point at No. 1 for the maroon and gold, topping Samford’s Zac Dunkle and Elliot Barnwell, 8-3.
 
But the Bulldogs came back to tie it at 1-all, as Elliot Barnwell claimed a 6-2, 6-2, against Elon’s Fortmann.
 
Kaufman helped Elon retain the lead at No. 4, topping Sajonz in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3, to give the Phoenix momentum and a 2-1 edge.
 
Austin Akers helped Samford knot the match at 2-all, topping Brian Kowalski in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4, at No. 5. Minutes later, Kilani won at No. 3 for the Bulldogs in straight sets versus Elon’s Robert Lindgren to put the Phoenix behind, 3-2.
 
Madrid dispatched Garrison Laduca in impressive fashion in the third set of his match, winning 5-7, 6-2, 6-1, to tie the match at 3-all and leave it up to Silverman at No. 1 singles for the title.
 
The Bulldogs managed to hold on at No. 1 for the win, claiming the league’s title. Dunkle was named the tournament’s MVP for his efforts this weekend.