HOUMA, La. – The Nicholls State University men's tennis team opened its 2013 spring season on a high note by defeating Oral Roberts, 6-1, in Southland Conference play on Friday.

Nicholls (1-0, 1-0) jumped on the conference newcomers early, sweeping doubles to take a 1-0 lead. Roy Knight/James Russell played in the top flight, winning 8-4 against Fabian Zierleyn/Jason Mechali. At No. 2, Damian Despotovski/Dmitry Kozionov defeated Parker Allen/Braxton Bates, 8-3, and Jeoffrey Noblecourt/Nico Mertens completed the sweep with an 8-2 win against Pedro Moreno/Nathaniel Avery.

In singles, Kozionov played in the top spot for Nicholls and needed only two sets for the win, defeating Zierleyn 6-3, 6-3. For the No. 2 spot, Despotovski won the first set 6-2, but Mechali came back to take the match with 7-5, 10-5 victories.

In the No. 3-6 matches, Nicholls took all four matches in straight sets. Mertens was dominant in the No. 3 flight, defeating Allen in the first set, 6-2, before earning the only shutout of the day. Knight took both of his sets 6-1 versus Moreno, while Manel Estruega won 6-3, 6-1 and Russell took his match 6-1, 6-3.

Nicholls will head to Texas for its next two matches, taking on Texas A&M and SMU this weekend.

MATCH RESULTS
Nicholls 6, Oral Roberts 1
Singles competition
1. Dmitry Kozionov (NICM) def. Fabian Zierleyn (ORU) 6-3, 6-3
2. Jason Mechali (ORU) def. Damian Despotovski (NICM) 2-6, 7-5, 10-5
3. Nico Mertens (NICM) def. Parker Allen (ORU) 6-2, 6-0
4. Roy Knight (NICM) def. Pedro Moreno (ORU) 6-1, 6-1
5. Manel Estruega (NICM) def. Braxton Bates (ORU) 6-3, 6-1
6. James Russell (NICM) def. Gabriel Kanelopoulos (ORU) 6-1, 6-3

Doubles competition
1. Roy Knight/James Russell (NICM) def. Fabian Zierleyn/Jason Mechali (ORU) 8-4
2. Damian Despotovski/Dmitry Kozionov (NICM) def. Parker Allen/Braxton Bates (ORU) 8-3
3. Jeoffrey Noblecourt/Nico Mertens (NICM) def. Pedro Moreno/Nathaniel Avery (ORU) 8-2

Match Notes:
Oral Roberts 0-1 (0-1 SLC)
Nicholls 1-0 (1-0 SLC)