Tigers Defeat Southern Miss in Men’s Tennis Exhibition

HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Nuutti Jokinen rallied in the third set at No. 6 singles to defeat Emilio Bowen, clinching a 4-3 men's tennis exhibition win at NCAA Division I Southern Mississippi Thursday at the USM Tennis Complex.

While the match was an exhibition for West Alabama, it was a counter for Southern Miss, who suffered its first loss after starting the season with three victories.

"The men had a tough match against a strong USM team," Tiger head coach Jeff Beaman said. "We started slowly on a lot of the singles courts but kept fighting and the men pulled out the comeback win like the women did against Jacksonville State in their last match.

"Nuutti (Jokinen) stepped up very big in the last and deciding match, coming back from being down in the third to clinch his match and the team win," Beaman said.

Jokinen defeated Bowen 6-7 (0-4), 7-6 (0-2), 7-5 to clinch West Alabama's third singles win and the match. Ilari Vesanen beat Hsiang Yi Wang 3-6, 6-4, 6-0 at No. 1 and Christopher Bulus defeated Alexander Gima 6-4, 6-1 to take No. 2 singles.

Vesanen and Bulus were winners at No. 1 to clinch the doubles point for West Alabama. Anton Lof and Patricio Nieto Corra were winners at No. 3.

West Alabama plays its first regular season match Sunday at Alabama State. First serves is set for 1 p.m.

West Alabama 4, Southern Miss 3

Singles Competition
1. Ilari Vesanen (UWA) def. Hsiang Yi Wang (USM) 3-6, 6-4, 6-0
2. Christopher Bulus (UWA) def. Alexander Gima (USM) 6-4, 6-1
3. Matthieu Peres (USM) def. Ilia Dehodiuk (UWA) 6-1, 7-6 (5-0)
4. Christopher Cahour (USM) def. Anton Lof (UWA) 6-0, 6-3
5. Antoine Androine (USM) def. Noah Johansen (UWA) 6-0, 5-7, 6-3
6. Nuutti Jokinen (UWA) def. Emilio Bowen (USM) 6-7 (0-4), 7-6 (0-2), 7-5

Doubles Competition
1. Ilari Vesanen/Christopher Bulus (UWA) def. Hsiang Yi Wang/Vence N'Tcha (USM) 6-3
2. Alexander Gima/Matthieu Peres (USM) def. Ilia Dehodiuk/Noah Johansen (UWA) 6-2
3. Anton Lof/Patricio Nieto Corra (UWA) def. Emilio Bowen/Antoine Androine (USM) 6-3

Match Notes:
Southern Miss 3-1
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (2,4,3,5,1,6)

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Players Mentioned

Ilia Dehodiuk: 5' 11"; Sophomore

Noah Johansen: 6' 3"; Junior

Anton Lof: 5' 11"; Senior

Ilari Vesanen: 6' 2"; Sophomore

Christopher Bulus: 6' 1"; Junior

Nuutti Jokinen: 5' 11"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

Ilia Dehodiuk
: 5' 11"; Sophomore

Noah Johansen
: 6' 3"; Junior

Anton Lof
: 5' 11"; Senior

Ilari Vesanen
: 6' 2"; Sophomore

Christopher Bulus
: 6' 1"; Junior

Nuutti Jokinen
: 5' 11"; Freshman