Oct. 24, 2007

THIBODAUX, La. - The Nicholls men's and women's tennis teams had their first action of the fall season this past weekend in the West Florida Invitational October 19-20.

True freshman Radu Ionescu led the men's team by winning the 6-4 draw tournament. Ionescu defeated fellow teammate sophomore Phenyo Matong in the semi-finals. Matong eliminated the No. 1 seeded player from West Florida in the quarter-finals. All six men won at least one singles match with junior Vlad-Lucian Popa reaching the quarter-finals along with Matong.

The doubles team of Popa and Ionescu reached the semi-finals of the in doubles play as did the team of Matong and sophomore Eric Fisher.

The women were led by true freshman Florina Nosca as she reached the semi-finals in her first collegiate action. Nosca, a native of Romania, later teamed with true freshman Anne-Claire Mullier to reach the doubles semi-finals. All Lady Colonels won at least one match in the invitational.

Head Coach Jim Hunter commented, " I was pleased by the effort. We have a very talented team and, we learned a lot about what we need to do to prepare for the regular season."

The Lady Colonels return to action this coming weekend in The Southern Mississippi Invitational while the next and last tennis match of the fall will be the UL Lafayette Mens' Invitational November 1-3.

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