Men's Tennis Starts Strong in Birmingham Friday

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Returning to fall tournament action following a near two-week break from competition, the Belmont University men's tennis team began play at Samford University's CCB Collegiate Invitational Friday morning by going 6-4 in singles. All five Bruins competing at The Country Club of Birmingham in Birmingham, Alabama, collected at least one singles win Friday.
 
Junior Eli Mizerski earned two match victories in order to advance to the semifinals in the Bulldog draw.
 
"I was very proud of the way Eli played today," commented head coach Jeff Cero. "Especially after his first set in his opening-round match against Tulane. He showed not only grit but adjusted and adapted his game to play the way we've been seeing him play. He played well with great poise through both of his matches."
 
After dropping a 7-5 opening set to Tulane's Vincent Vohl in his first-round match, Mizerski stormed back in sets two and three, 6-2, 6-2. In the quarterfinals of his draw, Mizerski dismissed Southern Miss' Niklas Jensen 7-5, 6-0.
 
Junior Sabi Roi and freshman Alabama native Charlie Robin also earned first-round match wins in the red draw. Both winning in straight sets, Roi topped Tulane's Max Kalinin 6-4, 6-4 while Robin defeated Matei Palcau of Jacksonville State, 7-6 (7), 6-2.
 
Junior Esunge Ndumbe and graduate Niklas von Hellens were both victorious in consolation matches Friday as well.
 
"We're looking forward to playing a lot of high-energy doubles tomorrow morning and getting off on the right foot," concluded coach Cero.
 
Doubles action gets underway at 9 a.m. Saturday morning with two rounds, followed by a round of singles beginning no earlier than 11:30 a.m.
 
Mizerski faces William Jade of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in the semifinals of his draw Saturday.
 
Belmont's complete match results from Friday's singles play can be found below.
 
Singles
Blue Draw – Juan Accossatto (South Alabama) def. Esunge Ndumbe (Belmont), 6-2, 5-5 (retired, injury)
Blue Draw – Esunge Ndumbe (Belmont) def. Hugo Salmeron (Kennesaw State), 4-6, 6-3, 1-0 (7)
Red Draw – Sabi Roi (Belmont) def. Max Kalinin (Tulane), 6-4, 6-4
Red Draw – Braden Hannig (South Alabama) def. Sabi Roi (Belmont), 6-3, 6-2
Red Draw – Charlie Robin (Belmont) def. Matei Palcau (Jacksonville State), 7-6 (7), 6-2
Red Draw – Alberto Altur (North Alabama) def. Charlie Robin (Belmont), 6-1, 6-2
Bulldog Draw – Leonard Tramolay (Louisiana) def. Niklas von Hellens (Belmont), 6-2, 6-1
Bulldog Draw – Niklas von Hellens (Belmont) def. Jake Anthony (UAB), 7-6 (3), 6-1
Bulldog Draw – Eli Mizerski (Belmont) def. Vincent Vohl (Tulane), 5-7, 6-2, 6-2
Bulldog Draw – Eli Mizerski (Belmont) def. Niklas Jensen (Southern Miss), 7-5, 6-0
 
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