THIBODAUX, La.  – Playing in its first match since Feb. 10, the Nicholls State University men's tennis team put together a strong outing on Tuesday, picking up a 6-1 victory against Alcorn State at the Colonel Tennis Complex.

Nicholls (6-4) swept doubles play, led by James Russell/Roy Knight in the No. 1 position with an 8-5 victory. Dmitry Kozionov/Damian Despotovski took the No. 2 match 8-4, while Nico Mertens/Evan Karatzas won the No. 3 match 8-2.

In singles, the Colonels won the top three flights before closing the day with two victories at the bottom of the lineup. Despotovski cruised to a 6-2, 6-1 win in No. 1 and Kozionov notched his seventh win of the season with a 6-1, 6-0 defeat of Ivan Umnikov at No. 2. Mertens also won in straight sets at No. 3 6-1, 6-2.

Knight earned his eighth victory of the season, defeating Vitali Vasileuski in the No. 5 match 6-3, 6-0.  Russell fell in the No. 4 match in straight sets before Jeoffrey Noblecourt rounded out the winners for Nicholls with a 6-4, 6-2 win at No. 6.

Nicholls will begin a six-match road slate on March 1 at UAB. First serve is scheduled for 10 a.m.

Nicholls 6, Alcorn State 1
Singles competition
1. Damian Despotovski (NICH) def. Ernesto Santillan (ASU) 6-2, 6-1
2. Dmitry Kozionov (NICH) def. Ivan Umnikov (ASU) 6-1, 6-0
3. Nico Mertens (NICH) def. Bhavratan Singh (ASU) 6-1, 6-2
4. Gary Amor (ASU) def. James Russell (NICH) 7-6, 6-2
5. Roy Knight (NICH) def. Vitali Vasileuski (ASU) 6-3, 6-0
6. Jeoffrey Noblecourt (NICH) def. Max Tkachenko (ASU) 6-4, 6-2

Doubles competition
1. James Russell/Roy Knight (NICH) def. Ernesto Santillan/Ivan Umnikov (ASU) 8-5
2. Dmitry Kozionov/Damian Despotovski (NICH) def. Bhavratan Singh/Max Tkachenko (ASU) 8-4
3. Nico Mertens/Evan Karatzas (NICH) def. Gary Amor/Vitali Vasileuski (ASU) 8-2

Match Notes:
Alcorn State 0-2
Nicholls 6-4