BOX SCORE (PDF)

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The Samford men's tennis team dropped a 6-1 decision at Alabama Monday afternoon.

"Alabama has a very strong team and they have a lot of parity from the top to the bottom of their lineup," Samford head coach Rahim Esmail said. "Today was a good challenge for our team. Rossouw did a great job at No. 1 – he played a very solid match and when it counted, he gave himself a chance to win."
 
With the loss, Samford falls to 1-2 on the young season. Alabama improves to 3-0 with the win.
 
Alabama took the doubles point with wins on the No. 2 and No. 3 courts to pick up the first point of the match. The No. 1 doubles match was not finished.
 
In singles, Samford's Rossouw Norval took the match at No. 1, defeating Riccardo Roberto, 4-6, 7-5, 1-0. Alabama won the singles matches at No. 2, No. 3, No. 4 and No. 5 to earn the 6-1 win.
 
Samford will host Kennesaw State Feb. 1. The match is set for a 2 p.m. start from the Samford Tennis Center.
 
ALABAMA 6, SAMFORD 1
MATCH RESULTS
DOUBLES
No. 1: Kaukovalta/Fischer (UA) vs. Norval/Rebol (SAM), 5-3 (unfinished)
No. 2: Nesterov/Roberto (UA) def. Bellalouna/Dixon (SAM), 6-2
No. 3: Garza/Zhou (UA) def. Santantonio/Andonov (SAM), 6-1
 
SINGLES
No. 1: Rossouw Norval (SAM) def. Riccardo Roberto (UA), 4-6, 7-5, 1-0
No. 2: Zhe Zhou (UA) def. Max Rebol (SAM), 6-1, 6-4
No. 3: Alexev Nesterov (UA) def. Mohammed Ali Bellalouna (SAM), 6-3, 6-1
No. 4: Patrick Kaukovalta (UA) def. Tomas Santantonio (SAM), 6-0, 6-3
No. 5: Marcelo Sepulveda Garza (UA) def. Luka Andonov (SAM), 7-6, 7-5
No. 6: Avi Shugar (UA) def. Timothy Dixon (SAM), 6-0, 6-0