University of North Dakota Athletics

TELAQUAH, Okla. – The spring break road trip continued with a second straight win for North Dakota men's tennis, who took on the Northeastern State RiverHawks and walked away with a 5-2 win on Sunday afternoon.

Competition began fast for the Fighting Hawks in men's doubles play, first starting with a convincing 6-2 win for the duo of Leo Galliano and Walker Valentine from the top court. Justin Ilic and Cole Wilber added in a 6-3 win from the third position to clinch the North Dakota double's point and the 1-0 lead as Christos Alex and Darrshan Suresh Kumar's match from the middle court went unfinished despite a 5-4 lead.

The battle was on in singles competition as UND collected four of six matches. Galliano fell in a tight knit first-set battle, 6-7 (4), and bounced back in dominating fashion. He cruised through the next two sets for a stifling pair of 6-1, 6-3 victories to take the win at the top court.

Suresh Kumar also put the pedal to the metal in his No. 2 spot performance with an electric 6-0, 6-2 win. Alex fought through an all-out battle at the No. 4 court and emerged victoriously in his gritty match, 6-4, 7-5. The final points for North Dakota came from the bottom position as Nikita Sclearenco made his season singles debut with a 6-4, 6-3 win to solidify the 5-2 UND victory.

The lone two losses for the Fighting Hawks came from the No. 3 and 5 courts, ending in close 3-6, 3-6 and 2-6, 1-6 losses, respectively.

North Dakota tennis will continue its Spring Break road trip with mid-week stops down in Louisiana at Nicholls State on Wednesday, March 11 and New Orleans on Thursday, March 12.

For more information on North Dakota men's tennis, visit FightingHawks.com or follow on social media @UNDmtennis.

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