Von Hellens and Roi Advance to Round of 32 at ITA Ohio Valley Regional Championships

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – On day two of the 2024 Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Ohio Valley Regional Championships in West Lafayette, Indiana, the Belmont University men's tennis team saw two advance to the round of 32 in the singles main draw. Both graduate Niklas von Hellens and junior Sabi Roi won in straight sets Friday in the main draw's opening round.
 
On the campus of Purdue University, the doubles tandem of junior Eli Mizerski and freshman Morgan Woodson got the day underway with a thrilling doubles match. The smallest of margins was the difference for Middle Tennessee State University's ninth-seeded duo of Shu Matsuoka and Jakub Kroslak, who prevailed past Mizerski and Woodson in a tiebreaker. Despite serving for the match, Mizerski and Woodson were unable to close things out and fell 7-5 in the tiebreak.
 
In singles action, Roi had the most convincing win of the day as he toppled Austin Peay's Sota Minami 6-2, 6-0. Meanwhile, von Hellens took care of Indiana University Indianapolis' Kamil Kozerski 6-3, 6-2.
 
"I thought there was a lot of great competing on our end for the most part, whether or not we felt like we played our best," spoke head coach Jeff Cero. "Big props to Niklas and Sabi for playing solid matches from beginning to end and taking care of opponents who could've become tricky if given the opportunity. I'm excited to see what they can do tomorrow."
 
On Saturday, Roi will take on ninth-seeded Henry Ruger of Vanderbilt in the round of 32 at 10 a.m. CT/11 a.m. ET. Von Hellens will face Purdue's Juan David Velasquez in the round of 32 at 11:30 a.m. CT/12:30 p.m. ET.
 
Junior Esunge Ndumbe took the Boilermakers' Daniel Labrador to a third set in the first round Friday but ultimately fell 7-5 in the final set.
 
Freshman Charlie Robin, Ndumbe and Mizerski will also be in action Saturday morning in consolation singles matches.
 
The Bruins' full match results from Friday can be found below.
 
Doubles
R32 – (9) Shu Matsuoka/Jakub Kroslak (Middle Tennessee) def. Eli Mizerski/Morgan Woodson (Belmont), 8-7 (5)
 
Singles
R64 – Sabi Roi (Belmont) def. Sota Minami (Austin Peay), 6-2, 6-0
R64 – Niklas von Hellens (Belmont) def. Kamil Kozerski (IU Indy), 6-3, 6-2
R64 – Daniel Labrador (Purdue) def. Esunge Ndumbe (Belmont), 6-3, 2-6, 7-5
R64 – Jack Batchelor (Bellarmine) def. Eli Mizerski (Belmont), 6-0, 7-5
 
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