Scott Watkins
Staff Writer
The Troy men’s tennis team returned to the comforts of home on Saturday and ended its three-game losing streak with wins over Georgia Southern and Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College.
The Trojans started the day with a 4-0 win over Georgia Southern and followed that up with a 5-2 victory over ABAC.
Against the Eagles, Troy swept the singles matches three games to none. Senior Pablo Moreno and freshman Jaiqi Duan each won in three sets, while junior Mustapha Belcora defeated Santiago Suarez in two sets 6-1, 6-4.
In doubles competition, Georgia Southern won the first match 6-3, but the Trojans captured the doubles point with back-to-back match wins. Junior Andy Lau and sophomore Filip Mansson won the point-clinching match 6-2.
The win was Troy’s first conference shutout since 2015 and first at home since 2010. The victory was also the first over Georgia Southern since 2015.
In game number two, Troy won four of six singles matches to take a 4-2 lead. Senior Hassan Ndayishimiye was the only Trojan to need three sets to win his match. Freshman Amer Bedwan, Belcora and Mansson all won in two sets.
Troy only needed two matches to clinch the doubles point after the Lau and Mansson tandem’s 7-1 win was followed by a 7-5 win by Shaaz Peerani and Moreno. Mansson had a near-perfect weekend, winning both of his doubles by a combined set score of 12-3.
Troy will once again host a pair of opponents, Columbus State and Alabama A&M, this Saturday. It will be the Trojans’ final two games before the Sun Belt Championships on April 19-23.
