BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Birmingham-Southern men's tennis team opened up their spring season on Saturday with a split in two matches against Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College and UT-Southern. 

Match one: BSC started things off with a split in singles play, making it a little harder heading into doubles. The No. 3, 4 and 5 singles players all took victories for the Panthers. Ryan King went to a tiebreaker set in his match, finishing it off 11-9. Sam Tolbert and Tanner DeBardelaben took their opponents in straight sets. 

In doubles play, the No. 3 duo of Eli Ingleson and Tom Smith finished first with an 8-2 victory. Next to finish was the No. 2 pair Hallet Green and Sam Tolbert at 8-4. These two victories clinched the win for the Panthers, at a final 5-4 over MGCCC. 

Records
Birmingham-Southern 1-0, Mississippi Gulf Coast 0-1

Match two: UT-Southern picked up the first three points of the match winning on all three doubles courts. Both duos of Wil Dotson and Tanner DeBardelaben, Hallet Green and Sam Tolbert lost competitive 8-5 matches. On court three Eli Ingleson and Tom Smith lost 8-1.

Ryan King brought in the first win for the Panthers in singles play winning straight sets at 6-4 and 7-5. Next to bring another point was Sam Tolbert going into a tiebreaker set, taking it 10-7. The third and final point for BSC came from court two where Wil Dotson won by opponent retirement. The Panthers ultimately fell 6-3 to UT-Southern. 

Records
Birmingham-Southern 1-1, UT-Southern 1-0

Up next
The Panthers will head to Lexington, Ky. for the Transylvania Invitational on February 11th.