Feb. 21, 2004

HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Samford men's tennis lost a heartbreaker to Southern Mississippi 4-3, Saturday afternoon in Hattiesburg, Miss. The Bulldogs won the doubles point for the sixth-consecutive match, but could not overcome the Golden Eagles in singles.

"It was a heartbreaker today," Head coach Kemper Baker said. "Our inexperience showed this afternoon. We still look very strong at doubles, but we still have to work on closing out the close singles matches."

Manuel Miletic and Rob Nunnery improved to 7-0 on the year at No. 3 doubles with an 8-3 victory. James Bryce and Johnny Griffee won their sixth match of the year at No.1 singles 8-6 to give the Bulldogs (3-3) the doubles point.

Stuart Misner improved to 2-1 at No.3 singles with a 6-2, 6-7, 6-4 victory and Griffee won 6-3, 6-5 at No. 5 singles to improve 5-1.

Samford returns home on Wednesday to play North Alabama at 3:00 in a doubleheader with the Samford women's team.

Southern Mississippi 4 Samford 3
Doubles:
1. Bryce/Griffee (SU) d. Bourgeois/Funke (USM) 8-6
2. Canudas/Rea (USM) d. Misner/Jensen (SU) 8-4
3. Miletic/Nunnery (SU) d. Lux/Mezey (USM) 8-3
Singles:
1. David Canudas (USM) d. Manuel Miletic (SU) 6-4, 6-2
2. Juan Garzon (USM) d. James Bryce (SU) 6-1, 6-4
3. Stuart Misner (SU) d. Marc-Oliver Lux (USM) 6-2, 6-7, 6-4
4. Christopher Rea (USM) d. Rob Nunnery (SU) 6-1, 2-6, 7-6
5. Johnny Griffee (SU) d. Reid Bourgeois (USM) 6-3, 7-5
6. Dylan Mezey (USM) d. Bradley Weaver (SU) 6-1, 3-6, 6-4