TROY, Ala.  – The Nicholls State University men's tennis team dropped its first two matches in its three-match Alabama weekend trip, losing 4-0 to UAB on Friday before falling 6-1 to Troy on Saturday.

Nicholls falls to 6-6 on the year with the two setbacks. The Colonels will wrap up the trip Sunday at Alabama State. First serve is scheduled for 10 a.m.

Against UAB (6-6), the Blazers won the first two matches in doubles to claim the point, but Evan Karatzas/Nico Mertens prevented the sweep with an 8-6 win at No. 3.

In singles, UAB clinched the match with straight set victories in the No. 4, 1 and 6 matches. The other three matches went unfinished.

On Sunday against Troy, senior Dmitry Kozionov had a strong day, going 2-0 against the Trojans. In doubles, Kozionov teamed up with Jeoffery Noblecourt for an 8-2 win at No. 1, but not before Troy won the other two matches 8-6 to take a 1-0 lead.

Kozionov made quick work of Mansingh Athare 6-3, 6-4 at No. 2 singles, but it would be the only point that Nicholls claimed. Despite coming up empty in the rest of the lineup, the Colonels had three matches go three sets. Damian Despotovski was outlasted in the No. 1 match 3-6, 7-6, 7-6; Roy Knight fell in the No. 4. position 5-7, 6-2, 6-1; and Sidharth Sivakumar dropped a 5-7, 6-3, 7-6 decision in No. 6.

UAB 4, Nicholls 0
Singles competition
1. David Zimmerman (UAB) def. Damian Despotovski (NICH) 6-2, 6-2
2. Tom Puetz (UAB) vs. Dmitry Kozionov (NICH) 4-6, 3-2, unfinished
3. Rafael Rondino (UAB) vs. Nico Mertens (NICH) 6-2, 6-5, unfinished
4. Chris Helliar (UAB) def. James Russell (NICH) 6-1, 6-2
5. Luiz Felipe Pinto (UAB) vs. Evan Karatzas (NICH) 5-7, 1-1, unfinished
6. Lucas Dirube (UAB) def. Jeoffrey Noblecourt (NICH) 6-3, 6-2

Doubles competition
1. Tom Puetz/David Zimmerman (UAB) def. Damian Despotovski/Dmitry Kozionov (NICH) 8-2
2. Lucas Dirube/Chris Helliar (UAB) def. Roy Knight/James Russell (NICH) 8-4
3. Evan Karatzas/Nico Mertens (NICH) def. Luiz Felipe Pinto/Rafael Rondino (UAB) 8-6

Match Notes:
Nicholls 6-5
UAB 6-6
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (4,1,6)


Troy 6, Nicholls 1
Singles competition
1. Anas Rouchdi (TROY) def. Damian Despotovski (NICH) 3-6, 7-6, 7-6
2. Dmitry Kozionov (NICH) def. Mansingh Athare (TROY) 6-3, 6-4
3. Sami Ghorbel (TROY) def. Nico Mertens (NICH) 7-6, 6-4
4. Daniel Bustamante (TROY) def. Roy Knight (NICH) 5-7, 6-2, 6-1
5. Patrick Eichler (TROY) def. Evan Karatzas (NICH) 6-4, 6-4
6. Tadju Davies (TROY) def. Sidharth Sivakumar (NICH) 5-7, 6-3, 7-6

Doubles competition
1. Dmitry Kozionov/Jeoffrey Noblecourt (NICH) def. Mansingh Athare/Sami Ghorbel (TROY) 8-5
2. Patrick Eichler/Anas Rouchdi (TROY) def. James Russell/Roy Knight (NICH) 8-6
3. Tommy Cundy/Andre Stabile (TROY) def. Nico Mertens/Evan Karatzas (NICH) 8-6

Match Notes:
Nicholls 6-6
Troy 2-6
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (2,5,3,4,6,1)

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