TROY, Ala. – Aurelien Tave came up big in the clutch for the Trojans tennis team when he defeated Abhaya Prakish of Nichols State in three sets, with all eyes at the Lunsford Tennis Complex watching.

The day started with the Trojans (1-4) rallying back to win the doubles point 2-1.

The first doubles match to finish was the number two match in which the Colonel’s Phenyo Matonga and Eric Fisher defeated Benjamin Chomette and Xazvier Masson, 8-4.

However, the Trojans number one and number three doubles teams didn’t feel the pressure and won both of their matches.

At number one, Mario Silva and Branko Weber defeated Radu Ionescu and Prakish, 8-6. Meanwhile at number three, Bastian Maucher and Tave defeated Rohan Shetty and Vlad Popa, 8-6.

The Trojans started singles play off on the right foot when Silva and Maucher each won their matches at number five and six, giving the Trojans a 3-0 lead.

Silva defeated Matong in straight sets; 6-0, 6-1, for his first singles win of the season. Within minutes, Maucher defeated Sami Mouline in straight sets; 6-1, 6-0.

However, the Colonels rallied back to tie the score at 3-3 behind wins from Popa at number four, Ionesuc at number one, and Fisher at number three.

Popa defeated Troy’s Masson; 6-3, 6-0. Ionescu defeated Troy’s Weber; 6-4, 6-2. Fisher defeated Troy’s Chomette; 6-4, 6-3.

These three straight set loses by the Trojans set up a deciding match at number two singles between Tave of the Trojans and Prakish of Nichols State.

When word had gotten to the number two court that their match would decide the outcome of the overall match, Prakish had just rallied to force a third set.

With all eyes watching, Troy’s freshman from Reunion Island, France, rose to the occasion and broke Prakish’s serve twice to take final set 6-3.

Tave’s 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 victory gave the Trojans their first win of the season and drop the Colonels to 1-2.

Troy will be back in action on Saturday, February 14th as they travel to Jacksonville, Fla. to take on the University of North Florida.