The Colonels men’s tennis team defeated Texas-San Antonio Roadrunners 4-3 Saturday afternoon to pick up their first home win of the season. In the doubles match, the Colonel’s number one team, Vlad Popa/Radu Ionescu fell to Robin Fernandes/Adam Becker 8-3.

The majority of this match was controlled by the Roadrunners through solid play. Popa and Ionescu’s strategy fell short, and unforced errors defined the game.

Coach Jim Hunter said the Nicholls program has been experiencing losing seasons and that when that happens, the players want to win badly.

“Coach said the No. 1 team was a little anxious early in the match, and when they finally settled down, it was too late,” Hunter said.

The No. 2 team, Eric Fisher/Phenyo Matong defeated Rodrigo Morgado/Andre Moreira 8-6. The match proved to be well balanced between the opponents; Fisher and Matong placed base-line shots and used the corners to get the victory. Hunter said he was pleased with the No. 2 team.

“Phenyo Matong played the best doubles match of the year, and Eric Fisher was, well, Eric Fisher,” Hunter said with a smile.

The third match was Chris Hernandez/Sami Mouline versus Max Stratmann/Daniel Moreiras. Early in the match Hernandez and Mouline took the lead to go up 3-1.

The Roadrunners found their form and won two straight to close the gap at 4-3 with Colonels leading. The Colonels responded by taking the lead with serves by Mouline, and a team effort service broke to put the lead at 7-5. But serving next, Stratmann and Moreiras had to win the next to stay in the match.

The Roadrunners managed to chip away at the lead, but Nicholls led 7-6. Hernandez was next to serve with the opportunity to put the match away.

The team effort by Mouline and Hernandez put them up 30-15. The next serve came, and the point was won by sending the ball out of play to put the Colonels at 40-15.

Hernandez addressed the service line and took a short, abbreviated swing. He hit the shot of the match, ending the game with an ace. Hunter said the highlight of the day was the No. 3 team winning.

“I love to watch them play; they always hustle, and it is always positive. It was an amazing win,” Hunter said.

In singles, the No. 2 match would go to the undefeated Eric Fisher (13-0) who dominated the match versus Rodrigo Morgado.

In the first set, Fisher struggled in the first three games to go down 2-1. Eventually the momentum began to swing his way, and Fisher managed to defeat Morgado 6-2 in the first set. In the second set, Morgado won 2-6.

“(Fisher) just continues to win.He beat a great player, and today he got down in the second set but battled back to win the third,” Hunter said.

In the No. 3 match, Popa won back-to-back sets with ease over Stratmann. Popa’s aggressive style of play put him up early in the set at 4-1, and Popa went on to win 6-3. In the second match, Popa stayed the course and won 6-3.

Tennis fans got a strategic chess match between freshman Ionescu and junior Robin Fernandes in the No. 1 singles match.

In the first set, Ionescu traded shots with Fernandes to win a close 7-6. Fernandes answered back in the second with a 5-7 win. In the anticipated third set, both players showed raw aggression and finesse in an attempt to win each point.

Armed with precise control, Fernandes handled his game. His serves were smooth and fluid. At times he kept Ionescu on his heels with a surprise of powerful serves, but he mostly relied on his strategically-placed finesse shots to win points.

At 5-5 in the set, Ionescu battled back from love-30 to win the match. Ionescu was up 6-5. Fernandes had the opportunity to serve and answer back to go up 30-love. However, the momentum swung back to the Colonels, where powerful, well-placed shots down the line by Ionescu left Fernandes shaking his head in frustration, 30-15. The next point came when Fernandes double faulted, 30-30.

The next big point came when Ionescu hit a high backhand to go up 40-30.

Fans chanted in foreign languages to motivate Radu. Fernandes took a deep breath and gathered his composure.

Fernandes answered back with some well-placed shots to take the game to deuce. Fernandes hit a powerful shot down the line and tied the match 6-6.

After nearly three hours of the match, both players had to find victory in the tie-breaker. Ionescu became the victor to help the Colonels defeat the Roadrunners. The Colonels’ coach said the match was wonderful and that Radu had beaten a great player.

“Radu wanted it badly; he overcame his struggles. I can trust someone who can fight like that. People around the league are starting to admire him,” Hunter said.

Nicholls dropped the final three singles matches as Matong fell 7-6, 6-3 to Becker at No. 4. Alex Gasca-Silav dropped a 6-3, 6-1 decision at No. 5 to Moreira, and in the No. 6 match, Mouline fell 6-0, 6-0 to Moreiras.