THIBODAUX, La. – Looking to put an end to its losing streak before conference play, the Nicholls State University men's tennis team battled it out with UT Rio Grande Valley on Monday afternoon, but the Colonels were unable to notch the victory as they were defeated, 4-2, at the Colonel Tennis Complex.
 
Nicholls has now lost nine consecutive matches after winning their opener against Jackson State. The Colonels will open Southland Conference play Tuesday as they host Incarnate Word at 2 p.m.
 
The match against UTRGV (8-8) was heated throughout, starting with doubles play. The Colonels dropped court one, but answered with a 6-4 win by Sam Meessen and Evan Karatzas at No. 3. With the point up for grabs, Max Sinn and Bernard Wezemen went into a tiebreaker at No. 2, but came up short as they fell 7-6 (7-4).
 
Nicholls evened the match in singles as Karatzas easily put away Ethan Ammon at No. 2, winning both sets 6-1. UTRGV regained the lead, however, with straight-set wins at No. 1 and 3.
 
Down 3-1, the Colonels stayed alive as Kieran Cronin put an end to his six-match skid as he defeated Elliot Johnstone, 6-4, 6-4 at No. 4. On the No. 6 court, Oscar Reeve fell in a tiebreaker in the first set, 7-6 (7-4), against Cosme Jubera, and the visitors sealed the team victory as Jubera took the second, 6-2.
 
Sam Meessen won the first set at No. 4, but play was suspended in the third after UTRGV clinched the match.
 
UT Rio Grande Valley 4, Nicholls 2
Singles
1. Juan Cruz Soria (UTRGV) def. Oleksander Podgursky (NICM) 6-2, 6-3
2. Evan Karatzas (NICM) def. Ethan Ammon (UTRGV) 6-1, 6-1
3. Koby Jansen (UTRGV) def. Max Sinn (NICM) 6-3, 6-0
4. Sam Meessen (NICM) vs. Yehonatan Kaufman (UTRGV) 6-4, 5-7, 0-1, unfinished
5. Kieran Cronin (NICM) def. Elliot Johnstone (UTRGV) 6-4, 6-4
6. Cosme Jubera (UTRGV) def. Oscar Reeve (NICM) 7-6 (7-4), 6-2
 
Doubles
1. Juan Cruz Soria/Koby Jansen (UTRGV) def. Oleksander Podgursky/Kieran Cronin (NICM) 6-3
2. Elliot Johnstone/Andres Hernandez (UTRGV) def. Max Sinn/Bernard Wezeman (NICM) 7-6 (7-4)
3. Sam Meessen/Evan Karatzas (NICM) def. Ethan Ammon/Yehonatan Kaufman (UTRGV) 6-4
 
Match Notes:
UT Rio Grande Valley 8-8
Nicholls 1-9
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (2,1,3,5,6)