The Elon University men’s tennis team clinched at least a share of the Southern Conference regular season title with wins over Wofford College and Furman University this weekend.
On Sunday, April 6, the Phoenix battled past Wofford by a score of 5-2. Elon opened the scoring by taking the doubles point with wins at No. 2 and No. 3 doubles.
Sophomore Robert Lindgren and junior Brian Kowalski won at No. 2 doubles, edging out freshman Trevor Gotkowski and junior Walker Heffron 8-5. Over at No. 3 doubles, juniors Stefan Fortmann and Juan Madrid clinched the doubles point with their 8-6 win over junior Jackson Keith and sophomore David Sklar.
The Phoenix took four of the six singles matches on the day. Junior Jordan Kaufman made quick work of Keith at No. 5 singles, winning easily 6-2, 6-0. Kowalski made it 3-0 Elon with a straight sets win at No. 4 singles.
Senior Cameron Silverman, ranked 36th in the nation, sealed the victory and a share of the conference title with his win at No. 1 singles. Silverman outlasted junior Rob Galloway in three sets 6-1, 3-6, 7-5. Fortmann then wrapped up the match with a win over freshman Haris Poric 7-5, 4-6, 6-4.
On Saturday, April 5, the Phoenix knocked off Furman 6-1, handing the Paladins their first conference loss of the season.
The two teams split the opening doubles matches. Silverman and Kaufman doubled up senior Joel Cook and sophomore Matt Browne 8-4 at No. 1 doubles. At No. 2 doubles, Lindgren and Kowalski fell to junior Jacob Benhal and freshman Adam Steryous.
The doubles point came down to No. 3 doubles. Madrid and Fortmann found themselves locked in a tight match with senior Alex Christ and sophomore Ben Horst. With the match tied at seven apiece, Madrid and Fortmann held on in the tiebreaker to take the match 8-7 (7-5).
After gaining momentum in the doubles portion of the match, the Phoenix rolled into the singles matches. Elon won all but all one singles match on the afternoon. Madrid beat Horst 6-4, 6-1 at No. 6 singles to give the Phoenix a 2-0 lead. Silverman then beat Steryous at No. 1 singles in a matchup of ranked opposition. Fortmann then sealed the victory for the Phoenix with a straight sets victory of Browne 7-6 (7-2), 6-0.
With the win in the bag, Elon continued to pile it on. Lindgren defeated junior Luke Synn in a super tiebreaker 6-3, 2-6, 1-0 (11-9) at No. 3 singles. Soon after, Kowalski completed a comeback victory after dropping the first set at No. 4 singles against Cook.
The Phoenix will return to the Jimmy Powell Tennis Center for two final home matches. On Wednesday, April 9, the Phoenix will wrap up conference play against Appalachian State University at 3:30 p.m. Elon will then wrap up the regular season Saturday, April 12, against East Carolina University at 1 p.m.