Jacksonville – The Jacksonville State University men's tennis team opened the ASUN Conference season with a 5-2 win over North Alabama in Jacksonville, Ala. On Thursday.
 
North Alabama opened the match with a win in doubles to earn the opening point of the match. The Lions earned the doubles win in the No. 3 spot, 7-6.
 
In singles play, the Gamecocks stormed back from the 1-0 deficit to take a lead over the Lions. In the sixth flight, Jordi Blanchar earned his sixth win of the season, 6-0, 6-4, to tie the match 1-1. Thomas Norwood gave the Gamecocks a 2-1 lead with a 6-3, 6-1 win in the third flight. Vicente Arbelaez earned his sixth win of the year to push JSU to three points in the match, winning 6-2, 6-3 in the No. 4 spot. Vanja Dobrnjac clinched the match win with a 6-4, 6-3 victory in the fifth flight. Maj Tomac added a fifth point for JSU in the second flight, 7-6, 6-4. North Alabama earned its only singles win on the No. 1 court to close out the match.
 
JSU will continue conference play on the road at Liberty on Mar. 25. The match is set to start at 3 p.m.
 
With Thursday's win the Gamecocks improve to 6-4 on the season and 1-0 in conference play.

"This was a great win for the guys. We lost the doubles and faced some tough moments early on in singles, but ultimately we found a rhythm on all five courts we won and showed the level we are capable of, said Head Coach Mike Mucci. "It's great to be 1-0 in the ASUN and we will get ready for a very difficult test against Liberty next Friday"
 
Tennis Match Results
North Alabama vs JSU Men's Tennis 2022
3/17/2022 at Jacksonville, Ala.
 
JSU 5, North Alabama 2
 
Singles competition
1. Fernando Herrera (UNA) def. Joaquin Vallejo (JSUMT22) 7-6 (7-0), 6-7 (0-1), 10-1
2. Maj Tomac (JSUMT22) def. Carlos Matarredona (UNA) 7-6, 6-4
3. Thomas Norwood (JSUMT22) def. Chris Zhang (UNA) 6-3, 6-1
4. Vicente Arbelaez (JSUMT22) def. Guilherme Diniz (UNA) 6-2, 6-3
5. Vanja Dobrnjac (JSUMT22) def. Nazar Fedoryshyn (UNA) 6-4, 6-3
6. Jordi Blanchar (JSUMT22) def. Jamie Bixby (UNA) 6-0, 6-4
 
Doubles competition
1. Carlos Matarredona/Chris Zhang (UNA) def. Joaquin Vallejo/Aljaz Kaplja (JSUMT22) 6-2
2. Maj Tomac/Vanja Dobrnjac (JSUMT22) def. Jamie Bixby/Guilherme Diniz (UNA) 6-1
3. Fernando Herrera/Nazar Fedoryshyn (UNA) def. Alex Vishnevskiy/Thomas Norwood (JSUMT22) 7-6 (3-0)
 
Match Notes:
North Alabama 1-10
JSU Men's Tennis 2022 6-4
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (6,3,4,5,2,1)