MOBILE, Ala.  – The Nicholls State University men's tennis team played its fourth straight match in the state of Alabama and the result was much of the same as nationally-ranked South Alabama rolled to a 6-1 victory Thursday afternoon at the Bruce David Lubel Memorial Tennis Courts.

After a quick 8-2 loss in doubles by Evan Karatzas/Nico Mertens, Nicholls (7-7) knotted the match at one game apiece with a victory by Dmitry Kozionov/Jeoffrey Noblecourt in No. 2 pairing. The duo took the match against former Colonel Shyann Vaezzadeh and Alex Bernard 8-5, but USA claimed the point when Daniel Leitner/Gerhar Gruindelingh defeated Damian Despotovski/Roy Knight at No. 1 8-6.

In singles play, the Colonels didn't have much luck as Mertens was the only Colonel to win, defeating Gruindelingh 6-4, 6-3 at the No. 3 position. Kozionov put up a fight against No. 60 Leitner at No. 1 but after winning the first set 7-5, dropped the next two 6-2, 7-5. Knight also fell in three sets against his former teammate, Vaezzadeh, losing in the No. 4 match 6-1, 3-6, 7-5.

Rounding out the results for the Colonels, Despotovski (No. 2) was defeated 6-2, 6-1; Sidharth Sivakumar (No. 5) fell 6-0, 6-4 and Karatzas lost 6-2, 7-5 at No. 6.

The Colonels will have a week off before heading to New Orleans to take on Tulane on Thursday, March 14. First serve is slated for 3 p.m.

#58 South Alabama 6, Nicholls 1
Singles competition
1. #60 Leitner, Daniel (USA) def. Dmitry Kozionov (NICH) 5-7, 6-2, 7-5
2. Bernard, Alex (USA) def. Damian Despotovski (NICH) 6-2, 6-1
3. Nico Mertens (NICH) def. Gruindelingh, Gerhar (USA) 6-4, 6-3
4. Vaezzadeh, Shayann (USA) def. Roy Knight (NICH) 6-1, 3-6, 7-5
5. Troglia, Juan (USA) def. Sidharth Sivakumar (NICH) 6-0, 6-4
6. Hall, Cody (USA) def. Evan Karatzas (NICH) 6-2, 7-5

Doubles competition
1. Leitner, Daniel/Gruindelingh, Gerhar (USA) def. Damian Despotovski/Roy Knight (NICH) 8-6
2. Dmitry Kozionov/Jeoffrey Noblecourt (NICH) def. Bernard, Alex/Vaezzadeh, Shayann (USA) 8-5
3. Troglia, Juan/Hall, Cody (USA) def. Evan Karatzas/Nico Mertens (NICH) 8-2

Match Notes:
Nicholls 7-7
South Alabama 7-7; National ranking #58
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (2,3,4,1,5,6)