Eastern Florida State College men’s tennis player Salva Mulet opened the NJCAA Division I National Tournament with a victory Monday morning in Plano, Texas. The sophomore defeated SW Illinois’ Manaye Mossman 6-0 and 6-1 in a match delayed by overnight storms. Mulet, ranked No. 11 nationally in singles, advanced to the quarterfinals and will face No. 2 seed Santiago Hidalgo of Weatherford Tuesday at 8 a.m. Hidalgo, who had a bye in the first round, is 11-2 this season.
Mulet’s win came after a late start due to weather conditions that affected the tournament’s schedule. The match was played at No. 2 singles, a position that has been a key contributor for the Titans this season. Mulet’s performance follows a strong regional season for the Eastern Florida team, which entered the national tournament with high hopes after finishing first in the NJCAA Southeast Region.
The Titans will have all six of their singles players in action Tuesday, along with their three doubles teams. Head coach Mark Thompson said the team’s preparation focused on adapting to the fast-paced courts in Texas. “We’ve trained for this,” Thompson said. “Salva’s win gives us momentum, but we know the competition gets tougher every round.”
Mulet’s next opponent, Santiago Hidalgo, is a top-ranked player with experience in national tournaments. The match will be the first of several high-stakes encounters for the Titans as they aim to secure a deep run in the championship. The tournament, held at the Plano Tennis Center, continues through Friday, with the final scheduled for Saturday.