BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (February 3, 2026) – The University of North Alabama men's tennis team fell in a tight 4-3 contest Tuesday evening at the Samford Tennis Center in Birmingham, Ala.

The Lions (0-4) did battle against the in-state rivals, taking the Bulldogs to the wire. Rainy weather moved the action from outdoors to indoors, but the match lost no momentum as North Alabama rallied back after suffering a setback in doubles.

Samford (3-2) took the first point with wins from the first two flights in doubles.

The Bulldogs' Darcy Nicholls and Sandeep Mohandoss defeated No. 111 Alberto Altur and Izan Orgiles, 6-2, from court one. Court two went into a win-by-two scenario, but No. 65 Sebastian Harrison and Vitorio Sardinha fended off UNA junior Alex Despoja and freshman Benjamin Meyers in a 7-5 result to secure the doubles point.

Senior Lachlan Brain and sophomore Satoru Nakajima were deadlocked at 6-6 against Samford's Lukas Dvorak and Cooper Errey prior to the winning doubles match.

The Lions fought back in singles with three victories from courts one, three and five.

Brain's first singles win of the season saw him overcome Samford's Mohandoss, 7-6, 6-2, from the top flight. Orgiles had to go three sets, but he secured his first singles win of the campaign by holding off Harrison, 6-3, 1-6, 6-4, from court three. Sophomore Samu Dominguez kept momentum going with a three-set thrilling win over the Bulldog's Hayden Menon from court five, 6-2, 3-6, 7-6.

The even-numbered courts made the difference with victories from Samford to clinch the dual.

No. 111 Altur took his first set against Samford's Nicholls, but Nicholls secured the final two sets in a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 result from court two. The Bulldog's Santiago Arredonda claimed a 6-3, 6-2 win over Despoja from court four, leaving the sixth court to determine the dual winner.

UNA's Meyers and Samford's Dvorak split the first two sets, with Meyers taking the first, 7-5, and Dvorak winning the second, 6-2. Dvorak was able to win the match for Samford after a 6-3 result in the third set.


Samford 4, North Alabama 3

Doubles

1. Darcy Nicholls/Sandeep Mohandoss (SAM) def. #73 Alberto Altur/Izan Orgiles (UNA), 6-2
2. # 65 Sebastian Harrison/Vitorio Sardinha (SAM) def. Alex Despoja/Benjamin Meyers (UNA), 7-5
3. Lachlan Brain/Satoru Nakajima (UNA) vs. Lukas Dvorak/Cooper Errey (SAM), 6-6, unfinished

Singles
1. Lachlan Brain (UNA) def. Sandeep Mohandoss (SAM), 7-6, 6-2
2. Darcy Nicholls (SAM) def. #111 Alberto Altur (UNA), 4-6, 6-3, 6-4
3. Izan Orgiles (UNA) def. Sebastian Harrison (SAM), 6-3, 1-6, 6-4
4. Santiago Arredondo (SAM) def. Alex Despoja (UNA), 6-3, 6-2
5. Samu Dominguez (UNA) def. Hayden Menon (SAM), 6-2, 3-6, 7-6
6. Lukas Dvorak (SAM) def. Benjamin Meyers (UNA), 5-7, 6-2, 6-3


Match Notes

Samford: 3-2
North Alabama: 0-4


COMING UP NEXT

UNA returns to action Friday, Feb. 6, for an out-of-state showdown at Jackson State in Jackson, Miss. First serve is set for 2 p.m.

For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.