THIBODAUX, La.  – The Nicholls State University men's tennis team played its first home match of the spring and the Colonels came away with a 6-3 victory against NAIA Xavier (La.) on Friday evening at the Colonel Tennis Complex.

Nicholls (1-1) jumped out to a 2-1 doubles after doubles play before taking four of the six matches in singles. Bernard Wezeman, Lukas Clemens and Nico Mertens all went unscathed in the victory, highlighted by Wezeman's shutout in No. 4 singles over Kevin Chaouat.

Wezeman and Clemens paired up for an 8-3 win at No. 2 doubles, and Partha Adavelly/ Nico Mertens gave Nicholls a 2-0 lead with an 8-5 victory at No. 2. In the No. 1 match, Xavier prevented the sweep as Kieran Cronin/ Evan Karatzas fell to Nikitia Soifer/ Kyle Montrel 8-6.

After Wezeman's 6-0, 6-0 win, Sam Meessen came away with a 6-2, 6-4 triumph over Adam Albrecht at No. 5.  Mertens then clinched the team win with a 6-4, 6-1 victory at No. 2, improving his singles record to 2-0. Clemens rounded out the winners for the Colonels, taking the No. 3 match 6-0, 7-6 (7-3).

In the final two matches, Xavier's Montrel and Vincenzo Ciccone won in three sets over Adavelly and Cronin, respectively.

The Colonels return to action on Sunday, Feb. 2 at No. 9 Texas A&M. First serve in College Station is scheduled for 4 p.m.

Nicholls 6, Xavier 3

Singles competition
1. Kyle Montrel (XU) def. Partha Adavelly (NICM) 6-2, 3-6, 6-2
2. Nico Mertens (NICM) def. Nikita Soifer (XU) 6-4, 6-1
3. Lukas Clemens (NICM) def. Tushar Mandlekar (XU) 6-0, 7-6 (7-3)
4. Bernard Wezeman (NICM) def. Kevin Chaouat (XU) 6-0, 6-0
5. Sam Meessen (NICM) def. Adam Albrecht (XU) 6-2, 6-4
6. Vincenzo Ciccone (XU) def. Kieran Cronin (NICM) 4-6, 7-5, 6-2
Doubles competition
1. Nikita Soifer/Kyle Montrel (XU) def. Kieran Cronin/Evan Karatzas (NICM) 8-6
2. Bernard Wezeman/Lukas Clemens (NICM) def. Kevin Chaouat/Viktor Svoboda (XU) 8-3
3. Partha Adavelly/Nico Mertens (NICM) def. Jordan Harrell/Tushar Mandlekar (XU) 8-5

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