THIBODAUX, La. - The Nicholls State University tennis program will make its 2026 debut on Wednesday, Feb. 4 as the Colonels host Coastal Alabama at the Thibodaux Regional Sports Complex.

The men will start things off with an 11 a.m. first serve while the women are slated to start at 2 p.m.

The men's squad is coming off an 11-11 season and brings back five returners including veteran Gerhard Venter. Colin Tavares headlines the group after claiming 10 victories in singles in his debut season. Sophomores Jewan Labuschagne, Marcell Marki, Felipe Spagnuolo are also back after solid rookie campaigns.

Nicholls will have four freshmen on this year's team including three from Louisiana -- Mitchell Armbruster, Charlie DuBos and Mitchell Spence. Arthur Oliani rounds out the roster after coming to Thibodaux from Brazil.

The women's team secured eight wins a year ago including a league win over Southeastern. Returning for the women are seniors Noemie Piquet and Amalie Grube Andersen, along with junior Aada Inna and sophomores  Julia Bordiginon, Blanca Losada, and Paulina Villegas.

Villegas had a stellar freshman season by going 12-6 in singles with four SLC victories. Piquet and Bordiginon also had strong campaigns with seven victories.

New to the Colonels this year are transfer Angela Basto and freshmen Jada Iverson and Ashvini Gopala.