TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- The Samford University men's tennis team will begin play in its 2015 dual-match schedule Monday at 10 a.m. (CT) as the Bulldogs square off against the 36^th-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide in a momentous season-opening showdown to be held at the Roberta Alison Baumgardner Indoor Tennis Facility.
 
Samford heads into the contest boasting one of its most talented rosters in school history. The Bulldogs' 2015 spring register includes returning starters in senior Austin Akers and juniors Trey Carter and Fares Kilani. Additionally, Samford returns sophomores Austin Ferrer and Henry Moore.
 
Fourth-year Head Coach Rahim Esmail has brought in arguably the highest-touted recruiting class in Bulldog tennis history as true freshmen Jake Faundez, Justin Ghavami, Austin Heinz and Eduardo Lourido Sanchez will bolster Samford's 2015 roster.
 
Alabama returns six players from last year's roster that won 14 matches, including seniors Andrew Goodwin and Stuart Kenyon, as well as junior Becker O'Shaughnessey and sophomores Hayes Brewer, Sean Donohue and Nikko Madregallejo. Added to the mix this season will be four freshmen in Sam Edwards, Langford Hills, Danny Kerznerman and Korey Lovett.
 
Samford trails Alabama in the all-time series by a count of 31-10, but in the teams' last meeting held Feb. 6, 2013, the Bulldogs defeated the No. 52-ranked Crimson Tide, 4-3.
 
In the historic triumph, Samford ended a 31-match losing streak against Alabama, dating back to May 5, 1961, when the school was named Howard College. Therefore, it was the Bulldogs' first win over the Crimson Tide in nearly 52 years.
 
The decisive match of the contest occurred on court No. 4 as Samford's Alex Sajonz gutted out a thrilling 7-6(5), 2-6, 6-4 victory over Alabama's David Vieyra.
 
Despite losing the all-important doubles match, the Bulldogs reeled off four key victories in singles play to earn the momentous 4-3 team win.
 
Competing indoors at the Roberta Alison Baumgardner Tennis Facility, Samford's Akers and Zac Dunkle quickly set the tone in singles play by streaking to straight-set victories on courts No. 5 and No. 1.
 
In the No. 1 singles contest, Dunkle registered a 6-2, 6-3 triumph over the nation's 79^th-ranked Jarryd Botha, while Akers breezed past the Crimson Tide's Stuart Kenyon, 6-2, 6-2, on court No. 5.
 
Samford's third key victory in singles play occurred on court No. 2 where junior Elliot Barnwell overcame a 6-0 loss in the first set to rally back for a 0-6, 6-4, 6-4 triumph against Alabama's O'Shaughnessey.
 
Monday's meeting will be Samford's first matchup with the Crimson Tide since knocking them off in 2013.
 
Following Monday's huge season-opening contest against the No. 36-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide, the Samford University men's tennis team will next be in action Feb. 7 at noon (CT) as the Bulldogs continue their arduous early-spring schedule on the road against the 19^th-ranked Mississippi State Bulldogs in Starkville, Mississippi.