BOX SCORE

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- The Samford University men's tennis team dropped a 6-1 decision to the 65^th-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide in the spring season opener for the Bulldogs Monday night at the Roberta Alison Baumgardner Tennis Facility.
 
"Overall, I'm happy with the way the guys competed today," Samford head coach Rahim Esmail said. "Alabama is a tough test for us to start off the spring season, but I feel we accomplished many of the objectives that we set out to achieve before the match."
 
Alabama jumped out to an early lead by winning the doubles point. Samford held a 5-4 lead at the No. 2 doubles spot, but the match was not finished after the Bulldogs dropped the No. 1 and No. 3 doubles matches, both by scores of 6-2.
 
"The doubles point and a few of the singles matches were closer than the scores appear," Esmail said.  "We had chances on certain courts, getting up early in doubles and singles, but Alabama did a good job in gaining the momentum back. We can definitely go back and be pleased with the way we competed and feel positive about the things we need to work on. "
 
In singles play, Alabama pushed its lead to 5-0 with wins at the No. 3, No. 2, No. 4 and No. 1 spots.
 
Samford sophomore Jake Faundez earned the win at the No. 6 singles spot. He defeated Alabama's Sam Edwards by scores of 3-6, 6-3, 10-7 to cut the Crimson Tide's lead to 5-1.
 
"Overall we fought really hard and with more match play I feel we will be able to handle the big moments within a match better," Faundez said. "In my singles match I was able to get an early momentum swing and held on to it until the end." 
 
In the final singles match to finish, the Crimson Tide earned a 7-6, 4-6, 10-8 win at the No. 5 spot to make the final score 6-1.
 
Samford falls to 0-1 on the season with the loss. Alabama, who defeated UAB earlier on Monday, improves to 3-1 with the win.
 
Samford will return to action on Friday, Nov. 22, when the Bulldogs host Kennesaw State. The match is set to begin at 2 p.m. at the Pat M. Courington Tennis Pavilion.
 
ALABAMA 6, SAMFORD 1
 
Singles competition
1. #66 Mazen Osama (UA) def. Fares Kilani (SAM-M) 6-3, 7-5
2. #106 Korey Lovett (UA) def. Trey Carter (SAM-M) 6-3, 6-1
3. #123 B. O'Shaughnessey (UA) def. Justin Ghavami (SAM-M) 6-4, 6-1
4. Grayson Goldin (UA) def. Leonard Gerch (SAM-M) 6-3, 6-3
5. Spencer Richey (UA) def. Eduardo L. Sanchez (SAM-M) 7-6 (7-5), 4-6, 10-8
6. Jake Faundez (SAM-M) def. Sam Edwards (UA) 3-6, 6-3, 10-7
 
Doubles competition
1. Lovett/Goldin (UA) def. Carter/Gerch (SAM-M) 6-2
2. Ghavami/Kilani (SAM-M) led Brewer/O'Shaughnessey (UA) 4-5, unfinished
3. Richey/Rossouw (UA) def. Faundez/Sanchez (SAM-M) 6-2