The Alabama A&M men's tennis team has its first winning streak of the season after ther Bulldogs defeated Alabama State and Tennessee State in back-to-back matches this week.  A&M closed the SWAC East Roundup with their first victory over the Hornets in three seasons, and then followed that with another road victory Thursday at Tennessee State.

The first day of competition at the East Round Robin, the Bulldogs seemed to be overwhelmed and did not play their best.  The morning match against Jackson State ended in a 0-7 loss, which was followed by a 3-4 loss to Mississippi Valley.

The next day, the Bulldogs were much more focused and put forth a more concentrated effort.  A 6-1 loss against Alcorn State was followed with a 4-3 win against Alabama State.  The 3-4 loss to MVSU on the first day, the first for the Bulldogs, is the one that will keep them out of the SWAC Tournament later this month.

Jackson State 0-7
An early morning chill and a very slow start doomed the Bulldogs against Jackson State.  The bright spot of the morning was the play of freshman Anthony Pickard, II.  “2” came within a couple of points from taking the 2nd set into a tiebreak, where his momentum would have probably forced a 3rd set.

Mississippi Valley 3-4
The first ever loss to an MVSU tennis team came at the wrong time for the Bulldogs.  The 3-4 loss coupled with the 2nd day win would have given the Bulldogs of A&M the 3rd spot in the East and put them into the Championship Tournament.  The men of A&M got the doubles point, but managed only 2 of the 6 singles points.  Wins in singles came from Johnnie Singleton at #4, and Anthony Pickard, II, at #6.

Alcorn State 1-6
In a very one-sided affair, the Bulldogs fell hard to Alcorn’s Braves, 1-6.  The lone point came at #2 singles from “Mr. Never Give Up”, Stevon Walker.  Stevon dominated the first set 6-2, then held on in a tie-break to win the 2nd set 7-6.

Alabama State 4-3
It seemed only fitting that these two teams would play into the dark of night, each looking for their first win of the weekend.  In the end, it was the two players from East St. Louis, IL, Johnnie Singleton at #4 singles, and Stevon Walker at #2 singles, vying for the final point.  It turned out to be Singleton with a 7-5, 3-6, 7-5 win to give the Bulldogs their first win over ASU in 3 years.

Tennessee State 4-2
The middle of the A&M lineup proved the difference as Walker, Brown, and Singleton each won singles matches with Rodgers/Brown and Singleton/Walker teams squeezing out close wins in doubles action.