Jan. 22, 2008

Box Score

NEW ORLEANS, La. - The Nicholls men's tennis squad captured a 5-4 victory over Xavier Monday afternoon to improve to 1-0 on the young season.

The two teams split the singles matches, with the Colonels winning the two, three and four slots, while the Gold Rush took the one, five and six matches.

At No. 2 singles, Vlad Popa defeated Terry Richardson 6-3, 6-1, with Eric Fisher sweeping Mikhail Vaval-Desse 6-0, 6-0 at the No. 3 spot. Phenyo Matong came from behind to take the No. 4 singles match 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 from Cameron Knowles.

Radu Ionescu fell 6-7 (9-7), 6-3, 1-0 (10-8) in a hard fought No. 1 match versus Miroslav Vukicevic. Sami Mouline dropped the No. 5 match 6-4, 7-6 (9-7) to Mario Myles, while Rohan Shetty fell 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 to Vusumzi Kempele at No. 6.

In doubles, Nicholls saw wins at one and two that gave the Colonels the overall victory.

Ionesucu/Popa defeated Walker/Vaval-Desse 8-3 in No. 1 doubles and Fisher/Matong captured an 8-4 No. 2 victory over Knowles/Vukicevic. In No. 3 doubles, Alex Gasca-Silav/Shetty fell 8-3 to Kempele/Richardson.

The Colonels return to action this weekend, traveling to Little Rock, Ark. to face Belmont, Arkansas-Little Rock and St. Louis.

Doubles

1 Radu Ionescu-Vlad Popa (NSU) d. Matthew Walker-Mikhail Vaval-Desse (XU) 8-3.

2 Eric Fisher-Phenyo Matong (NSU) d. Cameron Knowles-Miroslav Vukicevic (XU) 8-4.

3 Vusumzi Kempele-Terry Richardson (XU) d. Alex Gasca-Silav-Rohan Shetty (NSU) 8-3.

Singles

1 Miroslav Vukicevic (XU) d. Radu Ionescu (NSU) 6-7 (9-7), 6-3, 1-0 (10-8).

2 Vlad Popa (NSU) d. Terry Richardson (XU) 6-3, 6-1.

3 Eric Fisher (NSU) d. Mikhail Vaval-Desse (XU) 6-0, 6-0.

4 Phenyo Matong (NSU) d. Cameron Knowles (XU) 2-6, 6-3, 6-3.

5 Mario Myles (XU) d. Sami Mouline (NSU) 6-4, 7-6 (9-7).

6 Vusumzi Kempele (XU) d. Rohan Shetty (NSU) 6-4, 3-6, 6-4.

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