Florence, Ala. — The University of Southern Mississippi men’s tennis team dropped a 6-1 decision to North Alabama on Saturday at the UNA Tennis Courts. The Golden Eagles, now 7-10 overall and 1-3 in the Sun Belt Conference, struggled to find consistent offense against the Lions.
Southern Miss’s lone point came from Jose Murariu, who won in straight sets at No. 2 singles. North Alabama secured the doubles point with victories on courts two and three. Alex Despoja and Satoru Nakajima defeated Kale Mize and Olle Noltorp 6-2 at No. 2 doubles, while Lachlan Brain and Samu Dominguez also won 6-2 at No. 3 doubles over Julius Bult and Eric Perkowski. The No. 1 doubles match between Murariu and Saheb Sodhi and North Alabama’s Alberto Altur and Izan Orgiles was left unfinished with the Lions leading 4-3.
In singles play, North Alabama built a substantial lead with wins on courts four and five. Despoja defeated Perkowski 6-2, 6-2 at No. 4, and Dominguez beat Bult 6-3, 6-4 at No. 5. Southern Miss responded with Murariu’s victory over Orgiles, 7-5, 6-3 at No. 2, the team’s only singles win of the day.
The Lions closed the match with victories on courts six, one, and three. Nakajima defeated Noltorp 6-2, 6-4 at No. 6, Brain topped Mize 6-2, 6-4 at No. 1, and Altur edged Sodhi 6-4, 4-6, 1-0 at No. 3.
Southern Miss will return to action next weekend with road matches at Louisiana and Nicholls, seeking to improve their conference standing.
