CLEVELAND, Miss. – Picking up its first win of 2017, the Alcorn State University men's tennis program defeated Delta State 5-4 Wednesday at University Courts.
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Alcorn (1-9) was strong at the top as its top two players won both their singles and doubles matches. At No. 1 doubles, juniors
Nikita Kostikov and
Kert Kilumets notched an 8-4 win over Mason Vice and Joao Yamacita from DSU (0-1).
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Kostikov followed it up with a comeback 6-7 (4), 6-3, 4-3 (retired) victory over Hicham Azzaoui at No. 1 singles. Kilumets cruised to a decisive 6-1, 6-0 result over Vice at the No. 2 position. Kilumets improved his singles record to 3-2 on the year.
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The Braves earned the doubles edge after freshmen
Suyash Gupta and
Ivan Matas registered an 8-3 win at the No. 3 spot.
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Alcorn's final win came at No. 4 singles where junior
Nischay Rawal was up a set when his opponent could not continue late in the second.
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The Braves will have over a week off to prepare for their next match at West Alabama on Thursday, Feb. 16 at 1 p.m.
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The Alcorn women's team will be in action this weekend when they travel to UL-Monroe on Friday at 1 p.m. and Lamar on Saturday for a doubleheader starting at 10 a.m.
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Men's Tennis
Alcorn State 5, Delta State 4
Doubles Competition
1. Kostikov/Kilumets (Alcorn) def. Vice/Yamacita (DSU), 8-4
2. Azzaoui/Noblecourt (DSU) def. Rawal/Rocha (Alcorn), 8-6
3. Gupta/Matas (Alcorn) def. Hildenbrand/Schmidt (DSU), 8-3
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Singles Competition
1.
Nikita Kostikov (Alcorn) def. Hicham Azzaoui (DSU), 6-7 (4), 6-3, 4-3 ret.
2.
Kert Kilumets (Alcorn) def. Mason Vice (DSU), 6-1, 6-0
3. Jeoffrey Noblecourt (DSU) def.
Suyash Gupta (Alcorn), 6-3, 6-0
4.
Nischay Rawal (Alcorn) def. Joao Yamacita (DSU), 6-4, 4-5 ret.
5. Julian Massa (DSU) def.
Ivan Matas (Alcorn), 7-5, 6-4
6. Andrew Hildenbrand (DSU) def.
Nuno Rocha (Alcorn), 6-3, 2-6, 10-5
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#FearTheBrave
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