ORLANDO, Fla. - The Birmingham-Southern men's tennis team played some close matches but fell to Trinity (Conn.) and Haverford in the final two matches at the USTA National Tennis Center.

BSC vs. Trinity College (Conn.)

The Bantams won the first two doubles matches of the day in the No. 3 followed by the No. 1 position to get out to an early 2-0 lead. Ryan King and Sam Tolbert then prevented the sweep by Trinity with an 8-6 win in the No. 2 doubles match.

The Panthers found themselves down 2-1 heading into singles matches and later down 3-1 after the No. 6 match. No. 3 Ryan King then had an emphatic 6-2, 6-1 win to keep BSC within a point. After dropping the first set, No. 5 Reed Martinson forced a tiebreaker set with a chance to tie the overall team scores. However, Trinity's Kartik Erodula won the third set 10-5 to give the Bantams a two-point cushion. Trinity then claimed their fifth point to solidify the win in the succeeding No. 4 match. 

After falling in set one, No. 1 Sam Tolbert came back to win his match 10-6 in the final set. However, Trinity had already clinched the win on the night, 6-3.

Final: Trinity College (Conn.) 6, Birmingham-Southern 3

Singles competition
1. Sam Tolbert (BSC) def. Eduardo Sanchez (TC) 4-6, 6-2, 10-6
2. Pierce Rutledge (TC) def. Tanner DeBardelaben (BSC) 6-3, 6-4
3. Ryan King (BSC) def. Rico Buoro (TC) 6-2, 6-1
4. Andrew Nelson (TC) def. Tom Smith (BSC) 7-5, 6-1
5. Kartik Erodula (TC) def. Reed Martinson (BSC) 6-3, 4-6, 10-5
6. Brandon Felcher (TC) def. Callum Searle (BSC) 6-0, 6-0

Doubles competition
1. Eduardo Sanchez/Pierce Rutledge (TC) def. Tanner DeBardelaben/Tom Smith (BSC) 8-3
2. Ryan King/Sam Tolbert (BSC) def. Jack Ginter/Luca Garbati (TC) 8-6
3. Rico Buoro/Brandon Felcher (TC) def. Eli Ingleson/Callum Searle (BSC) 8-1

Records
Birmingham-Southern 7-5, Trinity College (Conn.) 3-0

BSC vs. Haverford

In their fifth match in five days, BSC did not look drained early on. In the No. 1 doubles match, Tanner DeBardelaben and Tom Smith pushed their opponents to 14 sets but ultimately fell, 8-6. The score was then tied at one a piece at the conclusion of the No. 2 duos match after Sam Tolbert and Ryan King won their third straight match together. Like the No. 1 match, Reed Martinson and Callum Searle took their opponents the distance but couldn't grab the win late in the final two games.

Haverford went on to sweep the singles matches, but three Panthers forced tiebreakers. No. 3 Ryan King and No. 5 Callum Searle fell 7-5 in their opening sets after back-and-forth tennis, and No. 1 Sam Tolbert forced a tiebreak in the final set but just came up short 7-5 to end the final Orlando match.

Final: Haverford 8, Birmingham-Southern 1

Singles competition
1. Marko Arboleda (HAV) def. Sam Tolbert (BSC) 6-3, 7(7)-6(5)
2. Aiden Kim (HAV) def. Tanner DeBardelaben (BSC) 6-1, 6-1
3. Justin Minerva (HAV) def. Ryan King (BSC) 7-5, 6-4
4. Chait Krishna (HAV) def. Tom Smith (BSC) 6-4, 6-2
5. Niki Lavu (HAV) def. Callum Searle (BSC) 7-5, 6-0
6. James McKenzie (HAV) def. Reed Martinson (BSC) 6-2, 6-2

Doubles competition
1. James McKenzie/Kirin Eicher (HAV) def. Tanner DeBardelaben/Tom Smith 8-6
2. Sam Tolbert/Ryan King (BSC) def. Adam Chow/Justin Minerva (HAV) 8-3
3. Marko Arboleda/Aiden Kim (HAV) def. Reed Martinson/Callum Searle (BSC) 8-6

Records
Birmingham-Southern 7-6, Haverford 2-3

Up Next
The Panthers will return back home to take on Doane at Ann Dielen Tennis Complex. The start time is set for 2:00 p.m.