By james art BIRMINGHAM, Alabama – Returning to fall tournament action after a nearly two-week hiatus from competition, the Belmont University men’s tennis team began play at the CCB Collegiate Invitational Friday morning at Samford University, winning 6-4 in singles. All five Bruins, who compete at The Country Club of Birmingham in Birmingham, Ala., collected at least one singles win on Friday.
Junior Eli Mizerski won two matches to advance to the semifinals in the Bulldog draw.
“I was very proud of the way Eli played today,” commented the head coach Jeff Cerro. “Especially after his first set in his first round match against Tulane. He showed not only guts, but adjusted and adapted his game to play the way we see him play. He played well with great poise in both his matches. “
After losing the opening set 7-5 to Tulane’s Vincent Wohl in his first-round match, Mizerski came back in sets two and three, 6-2, 6-2. In the quarterfinals of his draw, Mizerski eliminated Nicklas Jensen of Southern Miss 7-5, 6-0.
Junior Sabi Roy and a freshman born in Alabama Charlie Robin also won first round matches in red draw. Both won in straight sets, Roi defeated Tulane’s Max Kalinin 6-4, 6-4, while Robin defeated Jacksonville State’s Matei Palcau 7-6 (7), 6-2.
Junior Esunge Ndumbe and finished Niklas von Hellens both won in consolation matches on Friday.
“We’re looking forward to playing a lot of high-energy doubles tomorrow morning and getting off on the right foot,” concluded Coach Sero.
Doubles competition starts at 9am on Saturday with two rounds followed by a singles round starting no earlier than 11.30am
Mizerski faces William Jade of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in the semifinals of his draw on Saturday.
Belmont’s full match results from Friday’s singles play can be found below.
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Blue Draw – Juan Acosato (South Alabama) def Esunge Ndumbe (Belmont), 6-2, 5-5 (withdrew, injury)
Blue Draw – Esunge Ndumbe (Belmont) def. Hugo Salmeron (Kennesaw State), 4-6, 6-3, 1-0 (7)
Red Tie – Sabi Roy (Belmont) def. Max Kalinin (Tulane), 6-4, 6-4
Red Draw – Braden Hannig (South Alabama) def Sabi Roy (Belmont), 6-3, 6-2
Red Tie – Charlie Robin (Belmont) def. Matej Palkau (Jacksonville State), 7-6 (7), 6-2
Red Draw – Alberto Altur (North Alabama) def Charlie Robin (Belmont), 6-1, 6-2
Bulldog Draw – Leonard Tramolai (LA) 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 Voll (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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