MOBILE, Ala.  – The Nicholls State University women's tennis team began its 2017 spring season with a 7-0 setback at South Alabama Sunday at the Mobile Tennis Courts.
 
South Alabama (3-1) took courts one and two in doubles by the score of 6-1 to claim the point before going on to sweep singles action.
 
While Nicholls (0-1) dropped all of the singles matches in straight sets, two newcomers had strong showings in defeat. On the No. 1 court, Lingfeng Gu came up short against Monica Mitta, 6-4, 6-3. Changwei Wei took Leslie Bustamante to extra points in the first set before falling 7-5, and Bustamante went on to take the No. 4 match with a 6-4 win in the second.
 
The Colonels will return to the courts Friday, Feb. 11 against Loyola-New Orleans in City Park. First serve is scheduled for 1 p.m.
 
For the latest news on the Colonel women's tennis team, follow them on Twitter @Nicholls_WTEN.
 
South Alabama 7, Nicholls 0
 
Singles competition
1. Mitta, Monica (USA) def. Lingfeng Gu (NICH) 6-4, 6-3
2. Valkova, Laura (USA) def. Clemence Krug (NICH) 6-2, 6-3
3. Matuskova, Laura (USA) def. Mariia Kozachok (NICH) 6-0, 6-2
4. Bustamante, Leslie (USA) def. Changwei Wei (NICH) 7-5, 6-4
5. Martins, Patricia (USA) def. Ambika Pande (NICH) 6-0, 6-2
6. Zolotareva, Alina (USA) def. Andrea Mastrippolito (NICH) 6-0, 6-0
 
Doubles competition
1. Valkova, Laura/Martins, Patricia (USA) def. Changwei Wei/Lingfeng Gu (NICH) 6-1
2. Stiteler, Alexandria/Zolotareva, Alina (USA) def. Clemence Krug/Mariia Kozachok (NICH) 6-1
3. Mitta, Monica/Matuskova, Laura (USA) vs. Andrea Mastrippolito/Ambika Pande (NICH) 4-1, unfinished
 
Match Notes:
Nicholls 0-1
South Alabama 3-1
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1); Singles (6,3,5,2,4,1)