NATCHITOCHES – Northwestern State begins a pivotal stretch of five consecutive home matches at the Jack Fisher Tennis Complex Friday at 2 as the Lady Demons try to snap nationally-ranked Stephen F. Austin's 11-match winning streak in a battle of highly-successful Southland Conference women's tennis teams.

Northwestern is 9-2 overall, 3-1 in the Southland. SFA is 13-2 overall and 4-0 in the Southland, one of three unbeaten teams along with Texas State and Texas-Arlington. NSU is tied with Sam Houston State.

The Ladyjacks are ranked No. 43 in the latest Intercollegiate Tennis Association team poll, one spot ahead of Oklahoma and six in front of LSU. SFA is the only nationally-ranked Southland school.

NSU will rely upon senior captain Olga Bazhanova to set the tone. She is 10-1 in singles, all at No. 1, and has the same record at No. 1 doubles teamed with freshman Polina Konop. 

Konop is 9-2 in singles, mostly at No. 3. Two other Lady Demons, junior Andrea Nedorostova and freshman Tatiana Larina, also own 9-2 singles marks.

Larina/Nedorostova are 9-2 at No. 2 doubles.

Larina is the reigning Southland Conference Player of the Week, an honor won earlier this season by Bazhanova and Konop.

The contest is the only action of the weekend for the Lady Demons, who play host to Texas-Arlington next Wednesday and Sam Houston State next Sunday, April 1.