NEW ORLEANS – The Jacksonville State men's tennis team dropped its first match of the season Friday, falling 4-3 in a close one on the road with New Orleans.
 
The Gamecocks (5-1) dropped the doubles point and three singles matchups to the Privateers (3-1) in their fifth of seven road matches in a row.
 
Jax State's three singles wins came at No. 2, 3 and 5. Joaquin Vallejo improved to 4-1 with a two-set win over Misha Fomenkov. The junior took both sets 6-1 to give JSU's its first point of the day.
 
First-year Gamecock Thomas Norwood remained undefeated with a three-set win over Max Heinzel. Despite falling 6-3 in the second set, he sandwiched it with a 7-6 win in the first set and a 7-5 victory in the third.
 
Aljaz Kaplja claimed Jax State's third and final point of the afternoon with a two-set win at singles No. 5. The junior won 7-5 in the first set and 6-1 in the second set to take the match over Malte Steingass.
 
UNO claimed the other three singles matchups and two of the doubles sets to claim the win. New Orleans won the match with its victory at No. 4 singles in three sets. Johannes Klein won 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 over Dmitrii Vasilev to secure the contest for the home team.
 
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