Troy University’s men’s tennis team secured a narrow 4-3 win over South Carolina State in a match that came down to the final singles contest. The match took place in Troy, Alabama, with freshman Stephan Tavares Noale delivering the deciding point for the Trojans.
The doubles round saw Troy take an early lead. Senior Yeray Andres Pastor and sophomore Henrique de Brito won their match on Court 3 with a score of 6-2. On Court 2, junior Luciano Alcocer and freshman Ryusei Miyazato also claimed victory, finishing 6-3.
South Carolina State responded during the singles matches. Seniors Mikalai Bankou and Novak Novakovic, along with junior Iliyas Muratuly, each won their respective courts in straight sets, giving the Bulldogs three points.
Troy evened the score when sophomores Hiiro Sakamoto and Thiago Drozdowski secured wins on their courts. With the overall score tied at 3-3, attention turned to Court 5 where Noale faced off against South Carolina State’s freshman Andrii Borodatiuk. After a close battle, Noale emerged victorious in three sets (1-6, 6-2, 7-6), sealing the win for Troy.
The Trojans now hold an 8-4 record for the season while South Carolina State remains winless at 0-4. Troy is scheduled to play next at home against Alabama A&M on Friday at the Lunsford Tennis Complex. The match is set to begin at 2 p.m.
