BIRMINGHAM –  The Tennessee State men's tennis team put forth a strong effort against Samford but fell short in a 6-1 loss. The Tigers pushed several matches to the wire, including a pair of three-set thrillers, showcasing their determination against a tough opponent.

Doubles Play

TSU fought hard in doubles action but was unable to secure the early point. The No. 1 pairing of Jonasz Dziopak and James Adler Germinal fell 6-0 to J.B. Pickard and Darcy Nicholls, while Taj Hibbert and Tatenda Mutetwa battled before dropping a 6-4 decision at No. 2. The No. 3 match featuring Rohan Loubser and Nicholas Adamec was left unfinished at 4-4, reflecting the close competition.

Singles Play

The Tigers responded in singles with several tightly contested battles. Dziopak showed resilience at the No. 1 spot, pushing his opponent in the second set but ultimately falling 6-1, 7-5. Hibbert also played a tight first set at No. 2 but could not complete the comeback, falling 7-5, 6-0.

Loubser nearly forced a third set at No. 4 but fell in a hard-fought 6-2, 7-6 match. Germinal delivered one of the most exciting performances of the day at No. 5, winning the first set before ultimately dropping a 6-2, 4-6, 10-8 decision in a super tiebreak.

TSU secured a bright spot in the match at No. 6, where Adamec played with confidence, winning 6-3, 7-5 to earn the Tigers' lone point of the day.