��������

Just thinking about it brings a smile to J.B. Pickard’s face.“To be honest, I had no idea. I kind of couldn’t believe we had done it,�� Pickard said. “Then I hear everyone cheering, and they’re sprinting on, and I kind of just collapse.”The senior’s win at No.4 singles secured a Southern Conference Tournament title for the Samford men's tennis team, punching a ticket to the NCAA Tournament—a full-circle moment for him and the team.“We’ve come so close and fallen at the final hurdle a few times, but I think we all had kind of a different feeling about this year,�� Pickard said.>> YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD: Community coverage from �������� 13That feeling turned out to be right. The team also won a share of the SOCON regular-season title, and their 19 wins marked the most since 2011—when head coach Oliver Reynolds played for the Bulldogs.“I think there’s a little bit of extra ‘want�� from a coach that played at a school,�� Reynolds said. “For me, I just want to sustain that success for this program. My goal every year has been to figure out how we can be a little bit better.”Reynolds credits the program’s culture for their success.“They are just so interlocked with what they’re doing on and off the court. This team has spent so much time together off the court. It’s tough to show up to practice every day if you’re not excited to see all your teammates,�� Reynolds said.>> FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube A culture that seniors like Pickard have helped build.“It’s like nothing I’ve ever done in tennis before,�� Pickard said. “It’s such a journey, and you share it with literally your best friends.”Now, as the Bulldogs prepare for the NCAA Tournament, Samford is ready to show the world what they’re all about.“Brave. We have fun. Everyone sticks together, and we’re always going to smile when we play, but we’re also going to fight like dogs,�� Pickard said.Stay updated on the latest sports stories with the �������� 13 app. You can download it here.