THIBODAUX, La.  – The Nicholls State University men's tennis team got a strong performance for the lower two-thirds of its singles lineup as the Colonels defeated Tyler Junior College 5-2 Friday at the Colonel Tennis Complex.

After taking the top two matches in doubles by scores of 8-6 and 8-5 for a 1-0 lead, Nicholls (10-7) saw its top two players go down in singles. Partha Adavelly lost on the No. 1 court 6-2, 7-5 and Nico Mertens was ousted at No. 2, 7-5, 6-1.

But the rest of the Colonels lineup went unscathed to give Nicholls its second win in a row. On the No. 6 court, Kieran Cronin had little trouble in a 6-1, 6-1 win over Britton Blair, and Bernard Wezeman came away with a 7-5, 7-6 win at No. 4. The final two matches were decided in three sets as Lukas Clemens (7-5, 1-6, 6-3) and Sam Meessen (4-6, 6-3, 6-2) came out on top in the No. 3 and 5 matches, respectively.

The Colonels will have a quick turnaround, heading to Starkville, Miss. to face No. 22 Mississippi State on March 23. First serve is scheduled for 5 p.m.

Nicholls 5, Tyler Junior College 2
Singles competition
1. Mate Cutura (TJC) def. Partha Adavelly (NICM) 6-2, 7-5
2. Vaughn Hunter (TJC) def. #107 Nico Mertens (NICM) 7-5, 6-1
3. Lukas Clemens (NICM) def. James Martell (TJC) 7-5, 1-6, 6-3
4. Bernard Wezeman (NICM) def. Ryan Hudelson (TJC) 7-5, 7-6
5. Sam Meessen (NICM) def. Trey Seymour (TJC) 4-6, 6-3, 6-2
6. Kieran Cronin (NICM) def. Britton Blair (TJC) 6-1, 6-1

Doubles competition
1. Kieran Cronin/Lukas Clemens (NICM) def. Mate Cutura/James Martell (TJC) 8-6
2. Partha Adavelly/Bernard Wezeman (NICM) def. John King/Vaughn Hunter (TJC) 8-5
3. Nico Mertens/Evan Karatzas (NICM) vs. Trey Seymour/Ryan Hudelson (TJC) 6-7, unfinished