NEW ORLEANS –   The Nicholls State University men's tennis team opened Southland Conference play on Friday at New Orleans and the Colonels came up short, falling 6-1 to the Privateers at the University Tennis Center.
 
Kieran Cronin and Bernard Wezeman had solid days for the Colonels, which dropped to 1-6 on the year. The duo teamed up for a win at No. 1 doubles and in singles, Cronin earned the Colonels' lone point with a 7-5, 7-6 win at No. 6 over Giacomo Adoncecchi while Wezeman battled to three sets at No. 3.
 
"Our guys played hard with no conviction and lost to a much better UNO team that came out with a purpose. We need to get a couple of things right to see some success in the near future," said Meenakshi Sundaram, Nicholls tennis head coach.
 
Cronin and Wezeman started out doubles with an 8-4 win over Timo Kranz/ Christoffer Appelgre, but the Privateers would take matches No. 2 and 3 for the doubles point.
 
In the top two matches in singles, Sam Meessen was defeated 6-2, 6-2 at No. 1 while Evan Karatzas fell 7-5, 6-2 at No. 2. Wezeman took on Gonzalo Garcia at No. 3 and after splitting the first two sets, Garcia came up with a 6-1 win in the third set. The No. 4 and 5 matches were much of the same as Partha Adavelly and Max Sinn lost in straight sets.
 
The Colonels will step back out of conference play for their next seven matches, starting Sunday, March 1 at Texas A&M. First serve is scheduled for 4 p.m.
 
New Orleans 6, Nicholls 1
 
Singles
1. Timo Kranz (UNO) def. Sam Meessen (NICM) 6-2, 6-2
2. Rui Silva (UNO) def. Evan Karatzas (NICM) 7-5, 6-2
3. Gonzalo Garcia (UNO) def. Bernard Wezeman (NICM) 6-3, 2-6, 6-1
4. Blake Gregor (UNO) def. Partha Adavelly (NICM) 6-4, 6-2
5. Romain Lefevre (UNO) def. Max Sinn (NICM) 6-4, 6-3
6. Kieran Cronin (NICM) def. Giacomo Adoncecchi (UNO) 7-5, 7-6
 
Doubles competition
1. Kieran Cronin/Bernard Wezeman (NICM) def. Timo Kranz/Christoffer Appelgre (UNO) 8-4
2. Rui Silva/Blake Gregor (UNO) def. Sam Meessen/Max Sinn (NICM) 8-7
3. Giacomo Adoncecchi/Romain Lefevre (UNO) def. Partha Adavelly/Evan Karatzas (NICM) 8-5
 
Match Notes:
Nicholls 1-6, 0-1
New Orleans 5-4, 2-0