THIBODAUX, La.  – The Nicholls men's tennis team closed out its regular season by earning its second straight appearance in the Southland Conference Tournament with a 7-0 victory against Lamar at the Colonel Tennis Complex.

Nicholls finishes the regular season at 8-10 overall and 3-2 in conference. The Colonels can finish no worse than third place, depending on the remaining Southland games. However, Nicholls cannot catch UNO as the Privateers finished the year at 4-1. The Southland Conference Tournament will be held in Beaumont, Texas, starting on April 26.

The Colonels closed out the season with their second shutout of the year. Nicholls started out strong in doubles against Lamar (4-15, 2-2), sweeping the round to go up 1-0. Damian Despotovski/Nico Mertens picked up an 8-4 win at No. 1, while Dmitry Kozionov/Jeoffrey Noblecourt won 8-5 at No. 2. In the No. 3 match, Roy Knight/Evan Karatzas earned an easy 8-2 win.

In singles, the Colonels won all six matches in straight sets, including a shutout by Noblecourt in the No. 6 match. In the top of the lineup, Despotovski defeated Rob Lee 6-4, 6-2 and Kozionov picked up a 6-3, 6-1 win over CarlPhilip Lindqvist. A senior from Izhevsk, Russia, Kozionov the win was his 52nd career victory in singles, versus only 21 losses.

At No. 3, Mertens took both sets against Bruno Synder 6-3, while Karatzas won 6-4 in both of his at No. 5. Senior Roy Knight claimed a 6-4, 6-2 win in his final match in Thibodaux over Steven McMullan in the No. 4 match.

The Colonels' opponent in the SLC Tournament is yet to be determined. Please continue to check geauxcolonels.com for updates.

Nicholls 7, Lamar 0
Singles competition
1. Damian Despotovski (NICH) def. Rob Lee (LU) 6-4, 6-2
2. Dmitry Kozionov (NICH) def. CarlPhilip Lindqvist (LU) 6-3, 6-1
3. Nico Mertens (NICH) def. Bruno Snyder (LU) 6-3, 6-3
4. Roy Knight (NICH) def. Steven McMullan (LU) 6-4, 6-2
5. Evan Karatzas (NICH) def. Mikko Rajamaki (LU) 6-4, 6-4
6. Jeoffrey Noblecourt (NICH) def. Trey Crysel (LU) 6-0, 6-0

Doubles competition
1. Damian Despotovski/Nico Mertens (NICH) def. CarlPhilip Lindqvist/Mikko Rajamaki (LU) 8-4
2. Dmitry Kozionov/Jeoffrey Noblecourt (NICH) def. Steven McMullan/Bruno Snyder (LU) 8-5
3. Roy Knight/Evan Karatzas (NICH) def. Trey Crysel/Rob Lee (LU) 8-2

Match Notes:
Lamar 4-15, 2-2
Nicholls 8-10, 3-2