THIBODAUX, La. - The Nicholls State University women's and men's tennis teams hosted NJIT for a doubleheader on Thursday at the Thibodaux Regional Sports Complex and both squads came away with 4-3 victories over the Highlanders. 

With the win, the women improved to 8-7 while the men upped their mark to 6-7. It was just the third loss for the Highlander men's team (12-3), which was ranked as high as No. 65 this season. 

The Colonel women's team started things off by winning the doubles point. Dareen Hassan and Carla Bouygues took the No. 3 court with a 6-2 win and Sophia Sara Safarova/Noemie Piquet followed with a 6-4 victory on the top court.

In singles play, Hassan and Contranza Cruz put Nicholls ahead 3-0 after straight-set victories at 3 and 4, respectively. Safarova then clinched the team victory with a 6-4, 1-6, 6-0 win over Shivani Ingle. 

NJIT would take the remaining three courts in three sets. 

For the men, the Colonels also won the doubles point but each win was in seven points. NJIT picked up a quick victory at No. 2 before Harry Collins and Ilian Borlee earned a 7-5 triumph on the top line. With the point up for grabs, Antonio Sasso and Lukas Morand eked out a 7-5 win over Samuel Townes/Wil Jenkins.

Despite falling in three singles matches, Nicholls never lost the lead en route to its second win against NJIT in as many meetings. Collins won in straight sets at No. 3 before the Highlanders picked up points at the No. 6 and 4 courts to even it up a 2-2.

Sasso gave the Colonels the advantage with a 6-2, 6-4 victory at No. 5 and Borlee followed with a three-setter, winning 7-5, 3-6, 6-3 over Nejc Skorjanc. On the top court, NJIT's Pablo Perez Ramos outlasted Omar Morsy, 7-5, 4-6, 6-2.

UP NEXT
The Nicholls men will host Lamar Univeristy on Sunday (March 19) with an 11 a.m. start. The women are back in action on Monday at New Orleans.