BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (January 26, 2024) – The University of North Alabama men's tennis team took a 3-3 draw into the final pairing of the match before Samford prevailed in the final set to win 4-3 in Birmingham on Friday. 

The Lions fall to 0-2 on the season, while the Bulldogs improve to 1-3. 

Second flight duo Lachlan Brain and Izan Orgiles knocked off Samford's No. 2 by a 6-4 score to open up the match before UNA's third flight, Nazar Fedorshyn and Federico Scotuzzi, took home the second doubles match convincingly, 6-3, and took home the early advantage. Samford's top flight defeated UNA 6-4 in the final pairing.

Samford would however strike first in singles with a third flight win, then take a 2-1 advantage thanks to the No. 2 spot. 

UNA's Nazar Fedorshyn would notch the clubs at two-all in the fourth flight with 6-4 and 6-1 sets. Samford's top flight would stretch the Bulldog advantage to 3-2, but the Lions struck back to send it to the final flight at 3-3 thanks to Federico Scotuzzi winning in three sets, 6-2, 4-6 and 7-5 in the No. 5 pairing.

The match came down to UNA's No. 6 Birtan Duran and Samford's Sebastian Harris. Duran would take the first set 7-6 before Harris evened up the match at 6-3. The two battled as Harris would take a tight 7-5 third set to give Samford the victory. 

The UNA men's tennis team returns home to take on UAB on Saturday, Jan. 27 in the home opener in Florence, Ala. at 1 p.m.

Samford 4, North Alabama 3                                                                                                                             

Singles Competition
1. Sandeep Mohandoss (SAMM) def. Lachlan Brain (UNAM) 6-3, 3-6, 7-5
2. Darcy Nicholls (SAMM) def. Izan Orgiles (UNAM) 6-2, 6-1
3. Maksim Bogdanovich (SAMM) def. Alberto Altur (UNAM) 6-4, 6-1
4. Nazar Fedoryshyn (UNAM) def. J.B. Pickard (SAMM) 6-1, 6-3
5. Federico Scotuzzi (UNAM) def. Will Gray (SAMM) 6-2, 4-6, 7-5
6. Sebastian Harrison (SAMM) def. Birtan Duran (UNAM) 6-7, 6-3, 7-5
 
Doubles Competition
1. Sandeep Mohandoss/Santiago Arredondo (SAMM) def. Birtan Duran/Alberto Altur (UNAM) 6-4
2. Lachlan Brain/Izan Orgiles (UNAM) def. Maksim Bogdanovich/J.B. Pickard (SAMM) 6-4
3. Nazar Fedoryshyn/Federico Scotuzzi (UNAM) def. Will Gray/Darcy Nicholls (SAMM) 6-3

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