The Elon University men’s tennis team had a successful weekend on Saturday and Sunday afternoons to remain undefeated in Southern Conference play. The Phoenix completed convincing victories over Wofford College and Furman University with 6-1 and 7-0 wins, respectively.
On Saturday against Wofford, the Phoenix got off to a hot start by winning all three singles matches to take the early 1-0 lead. Sophomores Juan Madrid and Jordan Kaufman defeated freshmen Graham Duncan and Parks Thompson 8-5 at No. 3 doubles. Junior Cameron Silverman and sophomore Stefan Fortmann’s 8-4 victory at No. 1 singles clinched the doubles point. Finally sophomore Brian Kowalski and freshman Robert Lindgren defeated sophomore Jackson Keith and senior Tom Wood at No. 2 doubles 9-7.
The Phoenix then dominated the singles portion of the match, winning five of the six matches. Lindgren won the first match for the Phoenix by defeating Jackson Keith in straight sets, 6-1, 6-1. Silverman, who entered the match ranked No. 38 in the nation in singles, made short work of sophomore Rob Galloway in dropping just two games in the 6-0, 6-2 straight sets win at No. 1 singles.
Kowalski was the third Phoenix to win his match, as he also won in straight sets over sophomore Walker Heffron 6-3, 6-1 at No. 4 singles. Kowalski’s win clinched the win for Elon.
Stefan Fotmann’s victory at No. 2 singles over senior Drew Superstein 6-2, 6-3 at No. 2 singles to extend the lead for Elon.
Finally, Juan Madrid won again at No. 5 singles despite dropping the first set to Duncan.
At No. six singles, Wood defeated Elon senior Carlos Arboleda in three sets, 6-2, 5-7, 1-0 (10-8).
Wofford dropped to 2-8 on the season with an 0-3 mark in conference.
On Sunday, the Phoenix made even faster work of Furman with a 7-0 sweep of the Paladins.
Elon lost just one contest in the match in a dominating performance as Lindgren and Kowalski fell 8-6 at No. 2 doubles to freshman Matt Browne and junior Alex Christ.
Sophomores Juan Madrid and Jordan Kuafman started the day of for the Phoenix with an 8-3 victory at No. 3 doubles over senior Tyler Droll and sophomore Jacob Behal.
Silverman and Fortmann clinched the doubles point for the Phoenix as the No. 34 ranked doubles tandem defeated senior Andrew Mellow and junior Joel Cook 8-6 in No. 1 doubles.
The Phoenix won all six singles matches, five of which came in straight sets. Fortmann gave Elon their first singles point as he knocked off Christ in straight sets 6-2, 6-0 at No. 2 singles. Fortmann has been read hot, winning his last 7 singles matches.
Madrid was the next Elon player to win his singles match. The sophomore was victorious at No. 6 singles as he got passed senior Robbie Aru 6-1, 6-2.
Lindgren’s win at No. 3 singles clinched the match for Elon. Lindgren defeated Cook in a long first set 7-5, and continued on to win the second 6-3.
Kaufman continued the winning streak for the Phoenix as he beat Behal in straight sets 6-2, 6-4 at No. 4 singles.
Silverman won his fourth straight match at No. 1 singles defeating Mellow 6-4, 6-3.
Kowalski was the last Phoenix to win his match. He split the first two sets with Browne winning the first easily 6-1, then lost the second 6-5. The sophomore won in a tiebreaker 10-7 to seal his victory.
The Phoenix completed a weekend sweet defeating Southern Conference opponents Furman and Wofford by a combined score of 13-1. The Phoenix improved to 8-4 on the season and a perfect 4-0 in the Southern Conference. Furman fell to 2-8 and winless in conference at 0-2.
The Phoenix will host Dartmouth College on Wednesday, March 20 at 3 p.m. at the Jimmy Powell Tennis Center.