CONWAY, Ark. – All members of the Northwestern State women's tennis squad were on top of their game as the Lady Demons earned their first Southland Conference victory of the season on Saturday, crushing Central Arkansas 7-0.
 
The win improves NSU's record to 6-5 overall and 1-1 in SLC action while the Sugar Bears drop to 6-11, 0-4.
 
“This was a good win and the match was closer than the score indicates,” said Lady Demon head coach Patric DuBois. “We are playing very well in some areas and still need to improve in others.”
 
The Lady Demons started the day off with a 1-0 lead after two of NSU's doubles teams earned wins to grab the doubles point.  
 
Tatiana Larina and Andrea Nedorostova notched their ninth doubles victory of the year, taking down UCA's Simona Horsikyan and Allison Murphy 8-3 at the No. 1 spot while Polina Konop and Natalya Krutova teamed up to defeat Krizia Buck and Sasha Ruocco 8-2 in the second position.
 
Larina and Nedorostova are now 9-2 on the season while Konop and Krutova stand at 7-4.
 
In singles action, Konop overpowered Horsikyan 6-1, 7-5 at the No. 1 position and Larina dropped Murphy 6-0, 6-1 in the second spot.
 
Playing in the third position, Krutova defeated Kristina Horsikyan 6-0, 6-3 while Nedorostova took down Buck 7-5, 6-3 at the No. 4 spot.
 
Olga Leyshyna beat Ruocco 6-4, 6-1 in the fifth position and Daniela Simonova ended the day with a 6-4, 2-6 (13-11) win over Anna Buyukyan at the No. 6 spot.
 
“Tomorrow will be a good test to build on our strengths and work on areas where improvement is needed,” said DuBois.
 
The Lady Demons travel to Tulsa on Sunday to continue Southland play against Oral Roberts at 10 o'clock.
 
Northwestern State 7, Central Arkansas 0
March 16 at the UCA Tennis Complex
Conway, Ark.
 
Singles Competition
1. Polina Konop (NSU) def. Simona Horsikayan 6-1, 7-5
2. Tatiana Larina (NSU) def. Allison Murphy 6-0, 6-1
3. Natalya Krutova (NSU) def. Kristina Horsikayan 6-0, 6-3
4. Andrea Nedorostova (NSU) def. Krizia Buck 7-5, 6-3
5. Olga Leyshyna (NSU) def. Sasha Ruocco 6-4, 6-1
6. Daniela Simonova (NSU) def. Anna Buyukyan 6-4, 2-6 (13-11)
 
Doubles Competition
1. Larina/Nedorostova (NSU) def. S. Horsikayan/Murphy 8-3
2. Konop/Krutova (NSU) def. Buck/Ruocco/8-2
3. K. Horsikayan/Buyukyan def. Amy Williams/Leyshyna 8-5