April 19, 2008

NASHVILLE, Tenn. ---- The Samford men's tennis team defeated UT Martin Saturday in the first match of the semifinal round of the 2008 Ohio Valley Conference Tennis Championships. The Bulldogs won 4-0 in breezy conditions at the Belmont Tennis Courts.

Samford won the doubles point as No. 1 duo Hank Grant and Sam Huffman and No. 3 duo Renan Silveira and Kelwin Dewet won 8-0 and 8-3, respectively. Jordan Delass and Richard Walsh's match at the No. 2 court was called due to Samford clinching the doubles point.

In singles action, the Bulldogs won three straight matches at the No. 2, No. 4 and No. 6 courts. Sam Huffman got the first win for Samford at the No. 6 court, defeating UTM's Petr Markov, 6-3, 6-0. Jordan Delass defeated Andrey Yesipov, 6-1, 6-1, at the No. 2 court to put the Bulldogs up 3-0, and Hank Grant sealed the win for the Bulldogs, fighting through an injury to defeat Christian Slabbert, 6-2, 6-4, at the No. 4 court.

The Bulldogs will play the winner of #1 Tennessee Tech/#5 Jacksonville State in the championship match at 10 a.m. Sunday morning at the Tennessee State Tennis Courts.

Samford 4, UT Martin 0

Doubles
1. Hank Grant/Sam Huffman (SAM) def. Stephan Bruwer/Andrey Yesipov (UTM) 8-3
2. Jordan Delass/Richard Walsh (SAM) vs. Christian Slabbert/Alfredo Krywacz (UTM) unfinished
3. Renan Silveira/Kelwin Dewet (SAM) def. Stewart McRae/Matthew Harris (UTM) 8-0

Singles
1. Renan Silveira (SAM) vs. Stephan Bruwer (UTM) unfinished
2. Jordan Delass (SAM) def. Andrey Yesipov (UTM) 6-1, 6-1
3. Brian Dushock (SAM) vs. Alfredo Krywacz (UTM) unfinished
4. Hank Grant (SAM) def. Christian Slabbert (UTM) 6-2, 6-4
5. Oliver Reynolds (SAM) vs. Stewart McRae (UTM) unfinished
6. Sam Huffman (SAM) def. Petr Markov (UTM) 6-3, 6-0