THIBODAUX, LA. — The second matchup on the NJIT women's tennis team's Spring Break trip proved to be an extremely competitive affair. 

Despite being narrowly edged out by the Nicholls State Colonels, 4-3, the Highlanders had many things to build upon for the rest of the trip.

Paula Menendez Alvarez remained unbeaten in singles action on the trip after rallying from a first set defeat to win her No. 6 flight in three sets. Shivani Ingle made her first appearance in Louisiana and went 1-1 in her appearances, earning a victory with Irene Cocero at No. 1 doubles and pushing her No. 2 singles opponent to three sets. Cocero was the lone Highlander to win both her matches on Thursday as she added three-set win at No. 5 singles to her win with Ingle in doubles.

NEXT UP
The second half of the trip will start on Friday, March 17 with a 3 p.m. ET matchup against New Orleans.


NJIT vs Nicholls 
3/16/2023 at Thibodaux, La. (Thibodaux Regional Sports Complex) 
Nicholls 4, NJIT 3 

Singles competition 
1. Sandra Dzhambazov (NJIT) def. Simona Maksimovic (NICH) 7-6 (7-3), 4-6, 10-2 
2. Sophia Sara Safarova (NICH) def. Shivani Ingle (NJIT) 6-4, 1-6, 6-0 
3. Dareen Hassan (NICH) def. Laura Wipfli (NJIT) 6-2, 6-1 
4. Constanza Cruz (NICH) def. Shalom Salvi (NJIT) 6-3, 6-3 
5. Irene Cocero (NJIT) def. Carla Bouygues (NICH) 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 
6. Pa. Menendez Alvarez (NJIT) def. Sarah Hamley (NICH) 6-7 (4-7), 6-0, 6-2 

Doubles competition 
1. Shivani Ingle/Irene Cocero (NJIT) def. Laura Lopez/Constanza Cruz (NICH) 7-6 (7-4) 
2. Sophia Sara Safarova/Noemie Piquet (NICH) def. Laura Wipfli/Sandra Dzhambazov (NJIT) 6-4
3. Dareen Hassan/Carla Bouygues (NICH) def. Shalom Salvi/Pa. Menendez Alvarez (NJIT) 6-2 

Match Notes: 
NJIT 6-5 
Nicholls 8-7 
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (3,4,2,5,6,1)