Colonel Tennis takes both matches in opener against Loyola – Nicholls State University Athletics

NEW ORLEANS – The Nicholls State University women’s and men’s tennis teams began their seasons with victories against Loyola New Orleans on Wednesday afternoon at the City Park Tennis Center. The men picked up a 6-1 win while the women won 4-3.

In doubles for the men, Antonio Sasso and Quentin Lamothe won 6-2 and Harry Collins/Kotaro Matsumura notched a 6-1 win to give Nicholls an early 1-0 lead. The Colonels then put together a strong debut by winning all five of the singles matches in straight sets.

Collins and Sasso were the first to secure points for the Red and Gray on the singles court. Collins won his first set at No. 3, 6-2, then registered a shutout to defeat Samuel Motazed. After Loyola’s Herman Aure won at No. 6, Sasso battled Hippolyte de Preville at No. 5 in the opening set before going on to claim a 7-5, 6-1 win.

Omar Morsy continued his solid career as the Colonels No. 1 player with a 6-4, 6-1 victory over Fransico Arce. Morsy led Nicholls with 11 singles wins a year ago. 

The final two points were courtesy of Lamothe and Matsumura. Lamothe earned a 6-3, 6-4 win at No. 2 while Matsumura took both of his matches at No. 4, 6-4. 

In the women’s match, the Colonels also took a 1-0 lead after doubles but had to grind out the final point. Aada Inna and Lea Grinberg won in their debut at No. 1 before Liu QianYu and Sophia Sara Safarova garnered a 7-6 (7-3) triumph at No. 2. 

Despite winning by just a point after a singles split, Nicholls secured the team victory by taking the first three courts. Dareen Hassan cruised to a 6-4, 6-1 win at No. 6 and was followed by Inna with a 6-2, 6-3 win at No. 4. Safarova clinched the match with a 6-3, 6-4 victory at No. 3. 

Although the Colonels fell short in the remaining three matches, all three went into a tiebreaker. QianYu had the closest final set in a 10-7 loss at No. 1 against Lucy Carpenter.

UP NEXT
Both teams make their home debut this week at the Thibodaux Regional Sports Complex. The men face Jacksonville State on Thursday while the women take on Idaho on Friday. Both matches are set for 2 p.m.