MOBILE, Ala.  – After being edged in the doubles matches, the Nicholls State University men's tennis team would claim only one point in singles as the Colonels were defeated 6-1 by South Alabama in their spring season opener Saturday at the Bruce David Lubel Memorial Tennis Courts.

Nico Mertens was the lone Colonel to earn a point on the day, taking the No. 2 match 6-3, 6-3 over Tuki Jacobs. Mertens was close to winning in doubles as well as the sophomore paired up with Jeoffrey Noblecourt in the No. 3 match but the duo came up short, 6-5 (7-2). Lukas Clemens and Bernard Wezeman also lost a close battle in doubles as they were ousted 6-5 (7-3).

Wezeman headed the singles lineup for the Colonels and was blanked by No. 117 Daniel Leiter, 6-0, 6-0. Noblecourt lost in straight sets in the No. 5 spot before Clemans was defeated 6-4, 6-1 by Shayann Vaezzadeh at No. 3, securing the win for South Alabama (2-2).

Sam Meesen lost the No. 6 match and Evan Karatzas claimed the first set against Manuel Belda, 6-2, at No. 4, but dropped the final sets 6-2, 1-0 (10-6).

Nicholls returns to the courts on Feb. 2 at Texas A&M. First serve is scheduled for 4 p.m.

South Alabama 6, Nicholls 1
Singles competition
1. #117 Leitner, Daniel (USA) def. Bernard Wezeman (NICM) 6-0, 6-0
2. Nico Mertens (NICM) def. Jacobs, Tuki (USA) 6-3, 6-3
3. Vaezzadeh, Shayann (USA) def. Lukas Clemens (NICM) 6-4, 6-1
4. Belda, Manuel (USA) def. Evan Karatzas (NICM) 2-6, 6-2, 1-0 (10-6)
5. Gruindelingh, Ger. (USA) def. Jeoffrey Noblecourt (NICM) 6-3, 6-2
6. Troglia, Juan (USA) def. Sam Meessen (NICM) 6-1, 6-4

Doubles competition
1. Belda, Manuel/Troglia, Juan (USA) def. Lukas Clemens/Bernard Wezeman (NICM) 6-5 (7-3)
2. Leitner, Daniel/Robinson, Sean (USA) vs. Sam Meessen/Evan Karatzas (NICM) 5-4, unfinished
3. Jacobs, Tuki/Gruindelingh, Ger. (USA) def. Jeoffrey Noblecourt/Nico Mertens (NICM) 6-5 (7-2)

Match Notes:
Nicholls 0-1
South Alabama 2-2
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3); Singles (1,5,3,2,6,4)