Samford men’s tennis kicked off its fall season this past weekend, hosting a home invitational against Jacksonville State, Lipscomb and Kennesaw State, three programs the Bulldogs know well.
The tournament used a “hidden dual” format, designed to simulate the pressure of a real dual match months before the spring season begins. Players competed simultaneously across multiple draws rather than in a single elimination bracket, mirroring the flow of a Southern Conference dual: three doubles matches followed by six singles.
The stakes extend beyond the weekend. Samford finished last season ranked No. 72 nationally by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association, one of the program’s best finishes since the early 2010s. But the Bulldogs graduated five seniors and lost a sixth player to injury, leaving Coach Oliver Reynolds to reload half the roster under the NCAA’s new 10-man cap.
The response came in the form of two transfers and three freshmen, blending experience with untapped potential.
Reynolds shared his coaching strategy.
“My mindset is to figure out ways that allow us to make improvements year to year but sustain consistency,” he said.
The transfer class includes Eduardo Dias, a two-time Big South Player of the Year (2024 and 2025) who went 20-1 in singles at No. 1 for Gardner-Webb his final season, and Jakob Bonnett, a British player from Oundle, England, who spent two seasons as a regular doubles’ contributor at No. 2 for Monmouth. The freshman class reaches further, with Joaquin Blanco, a four-star, top-100 national recruit from Bradenton, Florida; Gaku Nayuki, a Japanese player with a career-high ITF junior ranking in the top 250; and Alex Sala Pages of Spain, whose twin brother suits up for East Tennessee State, Samford’s chief challenger atop the Southern Conference standings the past four years, with the two programs trading the league title the last two seasons.
With so many new faces, this weekend doubled as an evaluation.
“Whatever we’re seeing in practice, we got to watch them translate it to the match court,” Reynolds said, “and see how they handle the pressure and the big moments.”
Despite the turnover, Reynolds isn’t lowering expectations.
“I still believe, with so many new guys, we’re towards the top of this conference again,” He said.
He’s also hoping for a bigger crowd for the upcoming season.
“It’s not like pro tennis where you’ve got to be quiet between every point,” he said. “Cheering is heavily encouraged.”
With a roster stocked with international talent, veteran depth and a coach eager for backing, Samford’s home invitational offered students a first look at a team built to contend, if they’re willing to show up and get loud.
Staff Reporter
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