Despite being early in the men’s tennis season, senior Sebastien Normand has already given Nicholls State tennis coach Dominic Modise a reason to smile.On Feb. 4 the men’s tennis team recorded its first win under Modise as Normand won both his singles match and doubles match over St. Louis University with partner freshman Vlad-Lucian Popa. It was the first recorded win for men’s tennis at Nicholls in 22 years. The team returned last year after a 21-year hiatus.

“It felt really good when the team got their first victory,” Normand said. “Hopefully, things go well for us the rest of the season.”

Popa said playing with Normand is fun because they get along so well.

“We understand each other and how we play on the court,” Popa said. “When he’s down I try to help him, and when I’m down he does the same. We work very well together.”

Normand, from Plessis-Robinson, France, is the only senior on this year’s men’s squad. Normand said he came to Nicholls for the opportunity to play tennis.

“It’s my senior season, so after this I’m done,” Normand said. “I just want to play. Hopefully we can play well enough to compete in the conference.”

Modise said he looks for Normand to be a leader to the younger players, including his doubles partner Popa.

“The two have a good relationship,” Modise said. “Sebastien still has a lot of things to teach Vlad. You mix the two together, and they make a great team. If they could fix the small things they could do really well.”

Last season, Normand was the only Colonel to finish above the .500 mark. He led all Colonels, finishing the season 9-5 overall and going 8-2 in his final 10 games.

Normand has continued the winning trend so far this season. After five matches this season, Normand is 3-2 overall, winning two matches in a row. One of those loses came at the hands of No. 10-ranked LSU.

Even though he likes to win, Normand said all he wants is for the team to win.

“I don’t care if I lose my singles match,” Normand said. “I just want the team to win. That’s the most important thing to me.”

Normand also sees improvements he needs to make in order to continue to improve.

“I definitely need to improve on my serve and my backhand,” Normand said.

Modise said if Normand keeps improving he expects him to do good things for the Colonels.

“He’s one of the top 100 players in the country,” Modise said. “He plays at a high level and wants to win all the time. His determination is amazing and good for the program.”

For Normand, one of the most important things he has learned from being a Colonel is the companionship of his teammates.

“We’re really close, almost like family,” Normand said. “I live with three of my teammates and see the others every day. We have a special bond.”

As with any new place, coming to America required change. Normand said the biggest thing he had to deal with was the weather.

As a kid, Normand said he idolized athletes, such as Michael Jordan, like many American kids. He also felt influenced by his family.

In the tennis world, Normand said he always liked the playing of Andre Agassi and the current No. 1 player in the world, Roger Federer.

Prior to coming to Nicholls, Normand received a degree in sports management from Paris XI, a university in France. He is now a pre-MBA student here at Nicholls.

After he finishes his tennis career, Normand said he plans on playing tennis for fun, since he has played since he was six.

“My whole family played, so I picked up on it. I’ll still play after this semester for fun. That’s it,” Normand said.

The Colonels are currently 1-4 overall and 1-1 in the Southland Conference.