TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- The Samford University men's tennis team will open its spring season by taking on the 65^th-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide Monday at 5 p.m. at the Roberta Alison Baumgardner Tennis Facility.
 
Samford comes into the spring season returning five of its six main singles players from last year's team. Included in the returning starters are seniors Fares Kilani and Trey Carter, as well as sophomores Jake Faundez, Justin Ghavami and Eduardo Lourido Sanchez.
 
Also returning to the team this season are sophomore Austin Heinz, junior Austin Ferrer and redshirt junior Henry Moore. New to the squad this season is Oklahoma State transfer Leonard Gerch.
 
Samford posted a record of 10-11 last season. The Bulldogs were 3-4 in Southern Conference play in 2015. The team reached the second round of the SoCon Tournament before eventually falling to ETSU.
 
Alabama opened its season with a pair of matches Saturday afternoon. The Crimson Tide fell to Virginia Tech, 5-2, before defeating Georgia State by a score of 6-1 to enter Monday's match with a mark of 1-1.
 
Alabama returns four of its six starters from last year's team that posted a record of 17-17 overall and 3-9 in the Southeastern Conference. Prior to Monday evening's match, Alabama will host UAB at 1 p.m.
 
Samford trails Alabama in the all-time series by a count of 32-10. Samford opened the spring season against the Crimson Tide last season as well, falling by a score of 6-1. Samford's last win in the series came on Feb. 6, 2013, with the Bulldogs defeating the No. 52-ranked Crimson Tide, 4-3.
 
A full recap and results will be posted at www.samfordsports.com following the match.