Nikko Madregallejo, the last Alabama player to compete last weekend, was trying to complete a comeback after narrowly dropping the first set to his opponent from Columbia.

The indoor tennis stadium filled with shouts of encouragement and “one more.” A few minutes later he was shaking his opponent’s hand. He had finished the weekend undefeated in singles play.

“Having a team behind you really boosts you up especially your morale, your attitude when you’re feeling down,” Madregallejo said. “They can always pick you up, which is a big part of it.”

The Crimson Tide men’s tennis team hosted Notre Dame, Columbia, South Florida and Memphis last weekend for the Crimson Tide Four-In-The-Fall tournament. Alabama doubles teams finished the weekend 7-6 in doubles play while Alabama players won twenty of twenty six matches in individual play. 

Becker O’Shaughnessey, Korey Lovett and Mazen Osama also finished the weekend 3-0 in singles play while Hayes Brewer and Langford Hills achieved the same record of perfection in doubles play.

The wins were nice, but not the most important thing got out of the tournament. The weekend also served as the team’s parent weekend, and coach George Husack said nine of the 11 guys on the team had at least one parent come watch them play this weekend.

“To me, family is most important so I want them involved and included in everything,” Husack said. “Sometimes it brings out some tightness and anxiety in the guys when they are playing, but this weekend. I just think they embraced everything, and it was a lot of fun and that’s what it should be.”

Madregallejo’s father, Daniel, came all the way from California to see his son play. Husack said he wishes the team could have an event in California for Madregallejo and his family.

“It means a lot, I mean he’s always been there,” Madregallejo said. “He’s kind of the guy who got me into tennis so it means a lot to be able to perform, especially win, for him and my teammates.”

Macon, Georgia is not quite as far away, but O’Shaughnessey’s parents also came to watch their son compete this weekend. O’Shaughnessey said it was good to see not only his parents, but the other parents as well. He said his teammates’ family feels like an extension of his own.

O’Shaughnessey is one of three Alabama players set to compete in the ITA All American Championships taking place in Tulsa next week. He said this weekend gave him some valuable experience.

“It’s good to get other matches in before you go into Tulsa,” O’Shaughnessey said. “Tulsa’s the biggest tournament of the biggest in the fall so the best guys are there.”

Husack said he thought this weekend will help all of the players going forward. He said he liked what he saw out of his team this weekend.

“They were all pushed,” Husack said. “They had some unbelievable matches and that to me is invaluable.”