BIRMINGHAM, AL. – The Jacksonville State men's tennis team finished the Country Club of Birmingham Invite on a high note this past weekend.

"This is a unique weekend for some of our guys at one of the most beautiful places in the south," head coach Michael Helms said. "Samford Head Coach Oliver Reynolds and the Director of Tennis at Country Club of Birmingham along with the club membership roll out the red carpet for these student athletes is such a special fashion.  The tennis is always competitive and yes, we get another opportunity to get better on the court, but this weekend is much more than that. Thankful our guys get to experience such a wonderful event."
 
Charlie Penman, Matei Palcau, Timo De Visser, and Zach Murphy highlighted the Gamecocks' efforts. In singles action, Penman defeated Kennesaw State's Hugo Salmeron in straight sets with scores of 6-3 and 6-4. De Visser beat Tulane's Max Kalinin in straight sets by scores of 6-4 and 6-2. He then defeated Samford's Sebastian Harrison after losing the first set 4-6. De Visser clinched the win with a 6-3 second set and a tiebreaker win in the third set. De Visser finished the tournament with a win over UAB's Hoan Mouret due to Mouret retiring because of injury on Sunday.
 
Palcau beat Samford's JB Pickard with a 6-3 first set win and a 6-4 second set victory. Palcau beat Kalinin 6-3, 7-5 to close the tournament. Murphy beat Tulane's Vincent Vohl in straight sets 6-2, 6-1 before losing to Vitorio Sardinha of Samford Sunday.
 
In doubles play, Penman and de Visser beat Louisiana's William Ribero and Leonard Tramloay 6-3 before falling on Sunday. Murphy and Palcau teamed up to defeat Samford's Will Gray and Harrison in a tight 7-6 match. Murphy and Palcau then defeated Ben Kiblinger and Martin Schwartzman 6-3 on the final day of action. 
 
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