THIBODAUX, La. - Antonio Sasso and Harry Collins earned hard-fought victories in singles play but the Nicholls State University men's tennis team came up short in its home opener, falling 5-2 to Jacksonville State Thursday afternoon at the Thibodaux Regional Sports Complex.

Jacksonville State (2-2) swept doubles play for the early lead and went on to take the first three completed singles matches to secure the team victory. Sasso outlasted Matei Palcau on court No. 5, 6-1, 3-6, 10-6 for the first Colonel point before Collins rallied for a 1-6, 6-3, 6-2 win over Xavier Sarda Marti at No. 3. 

Omar Morsy also went into three sets but came away with a 5-7, 6-0, 10-4 setback on the top line against Alin Fatu. 

In doubles play, Venter Gerhard and Morsy were the first to fall in a 6-3 decision. Then Collins/ Kotaro Matsumura and Sasso/Quentin Lamothe dropped their matches by identical 6-4 counts.

Collins and Sasso both improved to 2-0 in singles play after their victories at Loyola New Orleans on Wednesday. 

UP NEXT
Nicholls heads to Baton Rouge on Sunday to face LSU. First ball is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.