NACOGDOCHES, Texas – A dramatic third-set win by freshman Daniela Simonova in the second to last singles match on Friday clinched a 4-3 victory for the Northwestern State tennis team over Southland Conference rival Stephen F. Austin, improving the Lady Demons winning streak to four matches.
 
NSU raises its record to 9-5 overall and 4-1 in Southland action while the Ladyjacks move to 8-8, 3-1. Northwestern State has now won three of seven 4-3 decisions this season.
 
The Lady Demons, in need of a rally after dropping the doubles point 2-1, won four of the six singles matches to earn the win.
 
Polina Konop and Natalya Krutova notched the lone doubles win for NSU, defeating SFA's Margot de Haan and Laura Servise 8-4 at the No. 2 spot.
 
“This was a very good win on the road against last year's SLC champions,” said NSU head coach Patric DuBois. “We let the doubles point slip away but all six girls were very focused and excited for singles.
 
“We had very good performances in all of the singles matches and were able to scrape out four wins.”
 
Krutova, a freshman, picked up the first singles win for NSU, overpowering de Haan 6-3, 6-0 at the No. 3 position.
 
Sophomores Olga Leyshyna and Tatiana Larina followed suit, grabbing the second and third wins for the Lady Demons. Leyshyna took down Valeria Terentyeva 6-2, 6-3 in the fifth spot and Larina defeated Julia Lorca 7-5, 6-3 at the No. 2 position.
 
 With three matches remaining, NSU was leading 3-1 and needed just one more win to seal the deal.
 
Senior captain Andrea Nedorostova had a promising start, grabbing the first set against Kateryna Bugayenko 6-1. However, Bugayenko would rally to win the second set 6-3 and third set 6-4 to take the match and bring the overall score to 3-2.
 
Simonova also had a good start, taking the first set 6-4 against Servise in the sixth position. She fell in the second set 6-3 but was able to rise to the occasion and overcome Servise in the third, winning 6-3.
 
“Daniela has been working very hard and is steadily improving,” said DuBois. “Her work paid off today under the pressure and she was able to clinch the victory for us.”
 
This is the second time this year that the freshman has won the match-deciding point, the first time came in the Lady Demons' win over Texas State on Feb. 16.
 
The Lady Demons return to their home court next Saturday to match up against top-ranked Southeastern Louisiana. Competition is set to begin at one o'clock at the Jack Fisher Tennis Complex.
 
 
Northwestern State 4, Stephen F. Austin 3
March 29 at the Schlief Tennis Complex
Nacogdoches, Texas
 
Singles Competition
1. Malena Gordo (SFA) def. Polina Konop 7-5, 1-6, 7-6 (3)
2. Tatiana Larina (NSU) def. Julia Lorca 7-5, 6-3
3. Natalya Krutova (NSU) def. Margot de Haan 6-3, 6-0
4. Kateryna Bugayenko (SFA) def. Andrea Nedorostova 1-6, 6-3, 6-4
5. Olga Leyshyna (NSU) def. Valeria Terentyeva 6-2, 6-3
6. Daniela Simonova (NSU) def. Laura Servise 6-4, 3-6, 6-3
 
Doubles Competition
1. Gordo/Lorca (SFA) def. Larina/Nedorostova 9-7
2. Konop/Krutova (NSU) def. de Haan/Servise 8-4
3. Bugayenko/Terentyeva (SFA) def. Simonova/Amy Williams 8-4