CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – The Nicholls State University men's tennis team wrapped up its conference schedule with a match at Southland-leading Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Friday afternoon and the Colonels were handed a  6-1 defeat.
 
After starting their Southland slate 4-0, the Colonels (11-10, 4-2) ended the year with back-to-back losses, but still clinched a spot in the Southland Conference Tournament for the third consecutive year. Nicholls will wrap up the regular season at Alabama on Sunday.
 
Sophomore Nico Mertens was the lone Colonel to earn a point, defeating Ricardo Mayagoitia in three sets, 6-4, 2-6, 1-0 (10-5). Mertens improved to 14-3 on the year and finished conference play with a perfect 6-0 record.
 
Mertens paired up with Evan Karatzas in No. 3 doubles, falling 8-3 to Mayagoitia and Javier Pujol which clinched the doubles point for the Islanders (15-9, 4-0). Kieran Cronin and Bernard Wezeman started off doubles with an 8-3 setback on the No. 1 court.
 
In singles, Pujol gave AMCC a 2-0 lead after defeating Lukas Clemens on the No. 3 court in straight sets. Guillaume Rauseo won both of his matches 6-2 against Cronin and Peter Nagy clinched the match for the Islanders with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Partha Adavelly at No. 1.
 
Following another win by the Islanders on the No. 5 court, Mertens prevented the shutout with a win in a tiebreaker. Paul Cook defeated Max Sinn on the No. 6 court to give the Islanders a 6-1 victory.
 
The Colonels will return to Corpus Christi as the Islanders host the Southland Conference Tournament, starting April 25. The Colonels will have the No. 2 seed in the tournament with the Islanders clinching the top spot.
 
Texas A&M - Corpus Christi 6, Nicholls 1
Singles competition
1. Peter Nagy (AMCC) def. Partha Adavelly (NICM) 6-2, 6-3
2. Nico Mertens (NICM) def. Ricardo Mayagoitia (AMCC) 6-4, 2-6, 1-0 (10-5)
3. Javier Pujol (AMCC) def. Lukas Clemens (NICM) 6-1, 6-3
4. Matt Westmoreland (AMCC) def. Bernard Wezeman (NICM) 6-3, 6-3
5. Guillaume Rauseo (AMCC) def. Kieran Cronin (NICM) 6-2, 6-2
6. Paul Cook (AMCC) def. Max Sinn (NICM) 6-2, 6-4
 
Doubles competition
1. Peter Nagy/Guillaume Rauseo (AMCC) def. Kieran Cronin/Bernard Wezeman (NICM) 8-3
2. Matt Westmoreland/Paul Cook (AMCC) vs. Partha Adavelly/Lukas Clemens (NICM) 5-6, unfinished
3. Ricardo Mayagoitia/Javier Pujol (AMCC) def. Nico Mertens/Evan Karatzas (NICM) 8-3
 
Match Notes:
Nicholls 11-10, 4-2 SLC
Texas A&M - Corpus Christi 15-9, 4-0 SLC
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3); Singles (3,5,1,4,2,6)