BIRMINGHAM, Ala. | Alabama State stepped out of conference for the second time in as many matches and for the second time this season pulled off a non-conference victory, defeating Samford 4-3 when
Ruan Du Preez (Cape Town, South Africa) clinched the match at number two singles. It is the second time that Alabama State has won in non-conference action after they defeated Southern Miss earlier this season at home.
The win is the first for Alabama State (6-6, 4-0 SWAC) over Samford in school history, ending a seven-match losing streak dating back to February 22, 2003 – a streak that included four shutout victories by the Bulldogs including the last two times the two met.
Doubles Play
- The Hornets captured the doubles point despite dropping their match at number one (6-1), due to the outstanding play of Niila Magga (Oulu, Finland) and David Jeanne Grandinot (Lisieux, France) at number three doubles. The team ran away from their opponents to pick up a 6-2 victory to help even play in doubles to set the stage at number two.
- The number two doubles team of Du Preez and Samrakshyak Bajracharya (Kathmandu, Nepal) clinched the point for Alabama State with a 7-5 victory.
Singles Play
- Alabama State claimed three of the singles matches to claim the match including a 7-6, 6-3 victory by Kristofer Johnson (Bromley, UK) over Samford's Matthew Gooch.
- Bajracharya picked up a straight set victory over Yerrassyl Murat (6-4, 6-4) to set the stage for the clinching match at number two after wins by Samford at number one, four and five (three sets).
- Du Preez won the first set over his opponent, Jim Hendrikx of Samford 6-2 before the two went to a tiebreaker in the second set won by the Bulldogs to tie the match up. The third and final set was won in a tiebreaker by Du Preez for the 6-2, 6-7, 7-6 victory and the overall in by the Hornets.
Up Next
Alabama State returns to action in Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) action looking to stay undefeated as they continue their road trip to Huntsville (Ala.) to face Alabama A&M. These two last met in the conference tournament finals where the Bulldogs stunned Alabama State to capture the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament last season.
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