JONESBORO, Ark. – Northwestern State's No. 1 doubles tandem of senior captain Olga Bazhanova and freshman Polina Konop fought off a comeback from Arkansas State and won a 7-4 tiebreaker to claim their match and the doubles point Friday, sparking the Lady Demons to a 5-2 women's tennis triumph that ended ASU's six-match win streak.
 
Arkansas State slipped to 7-3. The Lady Demons, 7-2, play a Southland Conference match Saturday morning at Central Arkansas. NSU is 2-1 in league play while UCA is 0-5, 6-8 overall.
 
Friday, Northwestern followed the doubles point with wins in the top four singles positions, including a pair of three-setters by Bazhanova (4-6, 6-2, 6-1 at No. 1) and Andrea Nedorostova (5-7, 6-2, 6-3 at No. 4).

“Olga and Polina really played well in the tiebreaker with the doubles point on the line, and gave us a little momentum there,” said Lady Demons head coach Patric DuBois. “First through four singles again played pretty well today. It was good to win a couple of three-setters. Olga got a really tough win. She completely hanged her strategy after losing the first set, made her opponent work a little harder, made the points a little longer, and came through to provide us with the decisive point for the match win.

“Andi also took control after a tough first set, and got the fifth point to finish up the match. It was a good day of competition,” said DuBois.

Freshman Tatiana Larina rolled 6-2, 6-1 at No. 2 singles while Konop prevailed 6-1, 6-4 in the No. 3 position. Larina/Nedorostova gave NSU its other doubles win, 8-3 at No. 2.
 
Northwestern State 5, Arkansas State 2
Women's Tennis at Jonesboro, Arkansas
 
 Singles competition
1. Olga Bazhanova (NSU) def. Mariana Rong 4-6, 6-2, 6-1
2. Tatiana Larina (NSU) def. Tamara Slijepcevic 6-2, 6-1
3. Polina Konop (NSU) def. Janie Nowland  6-1, 6-4
4. Andrea Nedorostova (NSU) def. Biljana Miloshevska (ASU) 5-7, 6-2, 6-3
5. Ioana Teu (ASU) def. Amy Williams  3-6, 6-0, 6-3
6. Ceara Howey (ASU) def. Linda Gamo 6-3, 6-2
 
 Doubles competition
1. Olga Bazhanova/Polina Konop (NSU) def. Mariana Rong/Ioana Teu 9-8 (4)
2. Tatiana Larina/Andrea Nedorostova (NSU) def. Biljana Miloshevska/Janie Nowland  8-3
3. Jess Heeps-Eriksen/Tamara Slijepcevic (ASU) def. Linda Gamo/Amy Williams 8-2
 
Match Notes:
Northwestern State 7-2
Arkansas State 7-3
Match Start time was delayed by two hours due to rain and time to allow courts
to dry.