BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Birmingham-Southern men's tennis team defeated Rhodes College on Saturday in the semifinal match of the Southern Athletic Association Conference Tournament. The Panthers defeated the Lynx 5-1 to advance to the championship match on Sunday. 

Birmingham-Southern took two out of three doubles matches to go up 2-1 to start off the match. The No. 2 duo of Hallet Green and Sam Tolbert earned the first win for the Panthers 8-3. Ryan King and Tom Smith on court three secured the second point in a 8-6 victory. 

BSC took three singles matches to secure the win and end the match in a victory that put the Panthers in the Tournament Title match. Tanner DeBardelaben earned the first singles win on court six, going 6-1 and 6-2 over his opponent. No. 1 Hallet Green took his 6-1, 6-0 and Sam Tolbert secured the win with a 6-2, 6-3 victory. Courts two, three and five went unfinished. The Panthers will now face the Sewanee Tigers in the championship match on Sunday at 10 a.m.

Birmingham-Southern 5, Rhodes 1
4/29/23 at Chattanooga, Tenn. (Champions Club Tennis Complex)

Singles competition
1. Hallet Green (BSC) def. Daniel Trudell (RHO)  6-1, 6-0
2. Wil Dotson (BSC) vs. Oliver Bonovich (RHO) 4-6, 3-3, UF
3. Ryan King (BSC) vs. Christian Mainella (RHO) 7-5, 1-1, UF
4. Sam Tolbert (BSC) def. Paul Fridman (RHO)  6-2, 6-3
5. Eli Ingleson (BSC) vs. Justin Bobo (RHO) 6-4, 3-0, UF
6. Tanner DeBardelaben (BSC) def. Gabe Williams (RHO)  6-1, 6-2

Doubles competition
1. Christian Mainella/Daniel Trudell (RHO) def. Wil Dotson/Tanner DeBardelaben (BSC) 8-6
2. Hallet Green/Sam Tolbert (BSC) def. Paul Fridman/David Phillips (RHO) 8-3
3. Tom Smith/Ryan King (BSC) def. Oliver Bonovich/Owen Kohler (RHO) 8-6

Records
Birmingham-Southern 19-3 Overall, Rhodes 13-10 Overall

Up next
The Panthers will take on the Sewanee Tigers in the SAA Conference Tournament Championship match on Sunday at 10 a.m.