College Tennis News - Nicholls Men's Tennis Claims a 4-3 Victory over Texas Pan-American

March 21, 2010

THIBODAUX, Louisiana - The Nicholls men's tennis team improved its Southland Conference record to 2-2 and 10-4 overall by claiming a 4-3 victory over Texas Pan-American on Sunday at the Nicholls Tennis Complex.

Texas Pan-American fell to 5-8 overall and 1-2 in conference play.

The Colonels had to play from behind as the fell down 0-1 by losing two of the three doubles matches. Vlad Popa and Radu Ionescu lost the first match at the No. 1 spot 8-5, while Dmitry Kozionov and Phenyo Matong fell at the No. 2 spot 8-4. The Colonels were able to come through in dramatic fashion at the No. 3 spot at the tandum of Eric Fisher and Roy Knight fought through and claimed the Colonels first victory.

In singles action Radu Ionescu fell to Ashwin Vijayaragavan 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 at the No. 1 spot, while Vald Popa also fell victim to the No. 3 spot to Beau Bernstein 6-4, 6-1.

With the Colonels down 3-0 and one point away from a defeat the team responded. Phenyo Matong and Dmitry Kozionov earned points for the Colonels at the No. 2 and No. 4 spots. Nicholls' Eric Fisher tied the contest at 3-3 with a win for the Colonels at the No. 5 spot by downing Andrew Irving in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3.

The final match to decide the meeting came down to the No. 6 spot which pitted Nicholls' true freshman Roy Knight versus Texas-Pan American Nirvick Mohinta, After winning the first set 7-6(4), Knight fell victim in the second set 3-6, by responded for the Colonels and trounced Mohinta in the final third set 6-3 to give the Colonels a 4-3 victory.

The Colonels who have won five of their last seven contests, will continue action on Tuesday, March 23 at 1:30 when they play host to Alcorn State at the Nicholls Tennis Complex.

Tennis Match Results
Texas-Pan American vs Nicholls
Mar 21, 2010 at Thibodaux, LA
(Nicholls Tennis Complex)
Nicholls 6, Texas-Pan American 3

Singles competition
1. Ashwin Vijayaragavan (UTPAM) def. Radu Ionescu (NICHM) 6-1, 3-6, 6-3
2. Phenyo Matong (NICHM) def. Brett Bernstein (UTPAM) 4-6, 6-4, 7-5
3. Vlad Popa (NICHM) def. Beau Bernstein (UTPAM) 6-4, 6-1
4. Dmitry Kozionov (NICHM) def. Marcus Dornauf (UTPAM) 6-2, 6-2
5. Eric Fisher (NICHM) def. Andrew Irving (UTPAM) 6-3, 6-3
6. Roy Knight (NICHM) def. Nirvick Mohinta (UTPAM) 7-6, 3-6, 6-3

Doubles competition
1. Beau Bernstein/Brett Bernstein (UTPAM) def. Radu Ionescu/Vlad Popa (NICHM) 8-5
2. Ashwin Vijayaragavan/Nirvick Mohinta (UTPAM) def. Phenyo Matong/Dmitry Kozionov (NICHM) 8-4
3. Eric Fisher/Roy Knight (NICHM) def. Andrew Irving/Marcus Dornauf (UTPAM) 8-7

Match Notes:
Texas-Pan American 5-8, 1-2 SLC
Nicholls 10-4, 2-2 SLC