NEW ORLEANS – The Nicholls State University men's and women's tennis teams took on Xavier University at the Pepsi Tennis Center on Wednesday evening in non-conference action and both squads came away with victories. The men won 5-4 while the women earned a 9-0 shutout.

The Colonel men's team (6-6) handed the Gold Rush (9-3), who are ranked No. 9 in the NAIA, only their third defeat of the season. Playing by NAIA rules, the Colonels took a 2-1 lead after doubles, winning the No. 2 and No. 3 matches. Shayann Vaezzadeh and Dmitry Kozionov won a close 8-6 match, while Damjan Despotovski/ Roy Knight outlasted Xavier 9-7. In the No. 1 match, Sidharth Sivakumar and Palash Tiwari fell 9-8 after dropping the tiebreaker 8-6.

In singles, Nicholls won three of the first four matches to clinch the victory. Despotovski came out on top with a win in retirement, followed by straight set victories from Sivakumar and Vaezzadeh.

The women's team (4-7) picked up its second shutout of the season and surrendered no sets to the Gold Nuggets (2-13). For doubles, the Colonels made quick work of Xavier, including an 8-0 victory by Catherine Gauthier and Marina Ljoshevska in the No. 3 match.

In singles, two players earned shutouts with Andrea Pont Grau taking the No. 4 flight and Janna Leeuwerik blanked the opposition in the No. 6 match.

The women return to the courts on Thursday for a conference match at Southeastern Louisiana, while the men are off until March 23 when they head to West Florida.

MEN - Nicholls 5, Xavier 4

Doubles
No. 1 -- Loic Didavi-Zach Taylor (XU) d. Sidharth Sivakumar-Palash Tiwari (NICH) 9-8 (8-6).
No. 2 -- Shayann Vaezzadeh-Dmitry Kozionov (NICH) d. Steffen Giles-Osborn - Sean Richardson (XU) 8-6.
No. 3 -- Damjan Despotovski-Roy Knight (NICH) d. Viktor Svoboda-Corey Huggins (XU) 9-7.

Singles
No. 1 -- Damjan Despotovski (NICH) d. Loic Didavi (XU) 6-1, retired.
No. 2 -- Zach Taylor (XU) d. Dmitry Kozionov (NICH) 7-6 (7-5), 6-3.
No. 3 -- Shayann Vaezzadeh (NICH) d. Viktor Svoboda (XU) 6-2, 7-5.
No. 4 -- Steffen Giles-Osborn (XU) d. Palash Tiwari (NICH) 7-6 (7-1), 7-6 (7-1).
No. 5 -- Sidharth Sivakumar (NICH) d. Amir Rahbar (XU) 6-2, 6-4.
No. 6 -- Sean Richardson (XU) d. Guillermo Collado (NICH) 6-3, 6-2.


WOMEN - Nicholls 9, Xavier 0

Doubles
No. 1 -- Parija Maloo-Janna Leeuwerik (NICH) d. Amanda Materre-Amber Brown (XU) 8-1.
No. 2 -- Marie Aubert-Andrea Pont Grau (NICH) d. Nicole DeLoach-Kourtney Howell (XU) 8-3.
No. 3 -- Catherine Gauthier-Marina Ljoshevska (NICH) d. Ashley McGill-Jordyn Goody (XU) 8-0.

Singles
No. 1 -- Parija Maloo (NICH) d. Kourtney Howell (XU) 7-5, 6-4.
No. 2 -- Marie Aubert (NICH) d. Amanda Materre (XU) 6-3, 6-1.
No. 3 -- Catherine Gauthier (NICH) d. Amber Brown (XU) 6-2, 6-1.
No. 4 -- Andrea Pont Grau (NICH) d. Jordyn Goody (XU) 6-0, 6-0.
No. 5 -- Marina Ljoshevska (NICH) d. Nicole DeLoach (XU) 6-1, 6-0.
No. 6 -- Janna Leeuwerik (NICH) d. Ashley McGill (XU) 6-0, 6-0.