ORANGEBURG, SC— The NJIT men's tennis team improved to 12-3 overall on the season with a 5-2 victory at South Carolina State.

The Highlanders won two out of three doubles contests to earn the point while winning four out of six singles contests for the 5-2 victory.

Head Coach Mike Sowter commented on the play of the Highlanders at South Carolina State. "This was our best performance of the year,”  said Sowter. “SCSU has been to the last five NCAA Championships and are undefeated this year against teams from our region, so we knew it was going to be a tough match. Everyone came ready to play and we showed a lot of grit and determination on the courts. I'm really proud of the way we fought for every point from start to finish and they deserved today's win."

NJIT's Markus Schultz and Holger Norregaard won 8-4 at second doubles while Schultz won in straight sets at first singles, 7-5, 6-0.  Norregaard won a three-set tilt at the second spot, dropping the first frame, 6-2, and bouncing back for a 6-4, 6-3 victory.

Freshman Andres Alban and senior Fraser Croad were 8-3 winners at third doubles.  Alban a double-winner on the day, fell in the first frame, 7-6(3) at fourth singles and battled back for a 6-3, 6-4 victory.

Classmate Erik Artursson also went the distance at fifth singles, taking the first set, 7-5, and dropping the second frame, 7-6(8) but came out on top in the final set, 6-2, to earn the point for NJIT.

The Highlanders will close out its Spring Break trip on Thursday against The Citadel at 11:30am.

Men's Tennis
NJIT 5, SCSU 2

Doubles
1. Anton Protsenko/Artemiy Nikitin (SCSU) def. Petr Rousar/Erik Artursson (NJIT) 8-6
2. Markus Schultz/Holger Norregaard (NJIT) def. Peteris Vinogradous/Marius Dragoi (SCSU) 8-4
3. Andres Alban/Fraser Croad (NJIT) def. Tomas Bizon/Jiri Stiburek (SCSU) 8-3

Singles
1. Markus Schultz (NJIT) def. Tomas Bizon (SCSU) 7-5, 6-0
2. Holger Norregaard (NJIT) def. Anton Protsenko (SCSU) 2-6, 6-4, 6-3
3. Artemiy Nikitin (SCSU) def. Petr Rousar (NJIT) 6-1, 6-2
4. Andres Alban (NJIT) def. Peteris Vinogradous (SCSU) 6-7(3), 6-3, 6-4
5. Erik Artursson (NJIT) def. Jiri Stiburek (SCSU) 7-5, 6-7(8), 6-2
6. Marius Dragoi (SCSU) def. Fraser Croad (NJIT) 6-4, 6-0