ABILENE, Texas – Facing a 3-0 deficit against Abilene Christian, the Nicholls State University men's tennis team reeled off three straight victories in singles to even the match, but the Wildcats took the decisive match on the No. 6 court for a 4-3 victory Saturday at the Eager Tennis Pavilion.
 
The loss was the Colonels' first in conference play this season, dropping the squad to 4-1. Overall, Nicholls posts an 11-9 record as does ACU, which is 3-0 in the Southland.
 
Evan Karatzas and Nico Mertens picked up an 8-4 win at No. 3 doubles, but the Wildcats won 8-6 on the No. 1 and 2 courts. ACU then took a 3-0 lead after Sam Meessen dropped the No. 5 match in straight sets, and Lukas Clemens was ousted 7-6, 6-3 at No. 3.
 
Bernard Wezeman started the comeback for Nicholls after winning both of his sets 6-4 over Jason Proctor. Nico Mertens won 6-3, 6-3 on the No. 2 court before Partha Adavelly outlasted Borja Cortes on at No. 1, 7-6, 2-6, 6-4. With the match tied at 3-3, Kieran Cronin got off to a good start at No. 6 against Marco Bensley with a 6-3 victory, but Bensley won the final two sets 6-1, 6-2 to end the Colonels' bid for an undefeated season in conference play.
 
Nicholls will wrap up its conference slate on Friday, April 6 at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.
 
Abilene Christian 4, Nicholls 3
Singles competition
1. Partha Adavelly (NICM) def. Borja Cortés (ACU) 7-6, 2-6, 6-4
2. Nico Mertens (NICM) def. Nicklas Wingord (ACU) 6-3, 6-3
3. Guilherme Gesser (ACU) def. Lukas Clemens (NICM) 7-6, 6-3
4. Bernard Wezeman (NICM) def. Jason Proctor (ACU) 6-4, 6-4
5. Nico Agritelley (ACU) def. Sam Meessen (NICM) 6-1, 6-2
6. Marco Bensley (ACU) def. Kieran Cronin (NICM) 3-6, 6-1, 6-2
 
Doubles competition
1. Borja Cortés/Guilherme Gesser (ACU) def. Bernard Wezeman/Partha Adavelly (NICM) 8-6
2. Nico Agritelley/Jason Proctor (ACU) def. Kieran Cronin/Lukas Clemens (NICM) 8-6
3. Evan Karatzas/Nico Mertens (NICM) def. Marco Bensley/Michael Morris (ACU) 8-4
 
Match Notes:
Nicholls 11-9 (4-1 SLC)
Abilene Christian 11-9 (3-0 SLC)
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (5,3,4,2,1,6)