SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The UNCG men's tennis team tried to rally back after falling in doubles but came up short against Samford, 4-3, Friday at the Southern Conference Tournament held at Reeves Tennis Center.  

The Spartans end the 2014-15 season with a 11-10 overall record while Samford advances to play No. 1 seed ETSU on Saturday.  

With the match tied at 3-3, senior Cameron Smith (Jamestown, N.C./Ragsdale) lost in the third set to Justin Ghavami, 6-3, 4-6, 7-5 at No. 4 singles to give Samford a 4-3 victory.

In doubles, Samford won two of three doubles matches to take a 1-0 lead. Austin Akers and Henry Moore defeated sophomore William Albright (Greensboro, N.C./Grimsley) and classmate Warren Bryan (Greensboro, N.C./The Early College at Guilford/Longwood), 8-4 at No. 2 doubles.

At No. 3 doubles, Fares Kilani and Ghavami clinched the doubles point with a 8-4 win against junior Daniel Mack (Lakeland, Fla./Lakeland) and Smith.

In the final doubles match, freshman Connor Thompson (Atlanta, Ga./Holy Innocents) and senior Randy Phillips (Snellville, Ga./Brookwood) went unfinished holding a 6-5 lead against Jake Faundez and Trey Carter.  

In singles, Thompson made quick work of Akers, 6-2, 6-0 at No. 2 singles to tie the match at 1-1. Lourido Sanchez took down junior Gaston Murray (Lake Worth, Fla./Park Vista), 6-0, 6-2 at No. 5 singles to give Samford a 2-1 lead.

Mack won in straight sets against Carter, 6-4, 7-6 at No. 3 singles to tie the match at 2-2. Faundez put Samford ahead 3-2 with a 7-6, 6-1 win against Albright at No. 6 singles.

Philips outlasted Kilani, 7-5, 7-6 at No. 1 singles to pull even at 3-3 overall. Phillips finished his senior season with a stellar 26-8 singles record coming just two wins shy of tying the school record for most victories in a season at 28. 

Follow all the action about the 2014-15 UNCG men's tennis team on www.UNCGSpartans.com or on twitter @UNCGMTennis.