FLORENCE, Ala. ----The NJIT men's tennis team closed a week of ASUN road matches on Saturday with a 5-2 defeat against the North Alabama Lions.

NJIT started doubles with a win from Abdullah Fouad and Lukas Zvikas at the No. 2 flight. UNA won the No. 1 match to bring the third flight into play, leaving George Svensson and Juan Bejarano to secure the point. Their match was the most closely contested of the three but it  broke North Alabama's way to put the Highlanders in a 1-0 hole. 

UNA added points from Nos. 6 and 1 singles before Zac Castagna was able to get the Highlanders on the board with a strong 6-2, 7-5 victory from the No. 3 position. After the Lions were able to clinch, Fouad matched Castagna and picked up a straight set win in the second flight.

"Abdullah had one of his best outings of the year, winning at second
doubles and second singles and Zac also played a strong match at number 3. North Alabama just proved to have more depth today," head coach Ira Miller said after the match.

North Alabama 5, NJIT 2

Singles competition
1. Jason Pimenta (UNA) def. Lukas Zvikas (NJIT) 6-2, 6-4
2. Abdullah Fouad (NJIT) def. Oscar Meslin (UNA) 6-4, 7-6
3. Zac Castagna (NJIT) def. Gustavo Girao (UNA) 6-2, 7-5
4. Andreas Hansen (UNA) def. George Svensson (NJIT) 7-5, 6-1
5. Cade Reasons (UNA) def. Juan Bejarano (NJIT) 2-6, 6-3, 6-3
6. George Markos (UNA) def. Pablo Arrutia (NJIT) 6-2, 6-4

Doubles competition
1. Jason Pimenta/Gustavo Girao (UNA) def. Zac Castagna/Pablo Arrutia (NJIT) 6-3
2. Lukas Zvikas/Abdullah Fouad (NJIT) def. Andreas Hansen/Oscar Meslin (UNA) 6-4
3. George Markos/Tim Heslin (UNA) def. Juan Bejarano/George Svensson (NJIT) 7-6 (10-4)

Match Notes
NJIT 4-13, 0-5 ASUN
North Alabama 3-14, 1-4 ASUN
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (1,3,6,5,4,2)