BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Alabama State University men's tennis opened the 2017 season two days later than scheduled, falling to Samford University 6-1 at the Samford Tennis Center Sunday afternoon.

Alabama State (0-1) was originally scheduled to play their season opener in Hattiesburg late last week, but the match was canceled as inclement weather approached the area. Meanwhile on Sunday, the Hornets lost the doubles point, although they were winning at number one. The number one doubles team of Ion Efrim and Takura Mlambo started the season in good fashion, although they did not win their match, they were leading 6-4 over the Samford doubles team of Jake Faundez and Hugo Moreira when the doubles point was decided.

The Hornets were able to pick up their point in singles play at number five when Szabin Pustzay picked up a three-set victory over Samford's Curran Verma 6-2, 3-6, 1-0. At number one singles, Mlambo fell to Justin Ghavami (Samford), claimed the first set before falling in three 3-6, 6-3, 6-3.

Alabama State returns to action Saturday on the road facing Georgia Southern at 10 am.

Samford 6, Alabama State 1
Birmingham, Ala. (Samford Tennis Center)

Singles
1. Justin Ghavami (Samford) def. Takura Mlambo (Alabama State) 3-6, 6-3, 6-3
2. Jake Faundez (Samford) def. Ion Efrim (Alabama State) 6-2, 6-3
3. Eduardo L. Sanchez (Samford) def. Tomas Fernandez (Alabama State) 6-2, 6-2
4. Max Rebol (Samford) def. Carl-Louis Luckmann (Alabama State) 6-2, 6-2
5. Szabin Pusztay (Alabama State) def. Curran Verma (Samford) 6-2, 3-6, 1-0
6. Hugo Moreira (Samford) def. Karlo Skvorc (Alabama State) 6-1, 6-1

Doubles
1. Efrim/Mlambo (Alabama State) led Faundez/Moreira (Samford), 6-4
2. Rebol/Sanchez (Samford) def. Fernandez/Luckmann (Samford), 7-6
3. Ghavami/Verma (Samford) def. Skvorc/Pusztay (Alabama State), 7-5