LAKE CHARLES – Andrea Nedorostova led the Northwestern State women's tennis team once again as the Lady Demons closed out the regular season with a 4-3 victory over McNeese State on Sunday afternoon at the Nancy Hank Tennis Center.
 
The win improves NSU's record to 11-7 overall and 6-3 in Southland Conference play while the Cowgirls fall to 13-9, 4-5.
 
“This match was as close as it gets with third set tiebreakers in the last two matches,” said Lady Demon head coach Patric DuBois. “Luckily, our senior (Nedorostova) was able to pull a win out.
 
“It was a heartbreaking loss for Polina (Konop), who played a great match against the likely SLC player of the year. This was as high level a match as I have seen in many years in our conference.”
 
The Lady Demons came out strong, sweeping the doubles matches to earn the doubles point and start the day with a 1-0 lead.
 
Tatiana Larina and Olga Leyshyna kept the momentum going as Larina defeated Lara Pujol 6-1, 6-0 at the No. 3 spot and Leyshyna overpowered Diana Pirciu 6-3, 6-3.
 
“We did a great job in doubles today and it was great to see Tatiana and Olga play their games in singles and take care of business in straight sets,” said DuBois. “The others fought very hard but came up short against a very well coached and solid McNeese squad.”
 
The Cowgirls would no go down easily; pulling within one at the 3-2 mark after Anastasia Surkova won the No. 3 singles match and Annabelle Peacock took the No. 6 match.
 
It came down to the No. 4 and No. 1 matches as Nedorostova and Konop each went to three sets against their opponents.
 
Nedorostova grabbed the first set against Andreea Nenu 6-3 before falling 3-6 in the second. The senior captain battled through a tough third set to eventually win in a 7-6 (6) tiebreaker and clinch the win for the Lady Demons.
 
“I am confident that we are ready to play well as a team in the upcoming SLC tournament,” said DuBois.
 
The Lady Demons take a week off before traveling to Beaumont for the Southland Conference Tournament. Competition in the tournament begins on Thursday, April 25.
 
 
Northwestern State 4, McNeese State 3
April 14 at the Nancy Hank Tennis Center
Lake Charles, La.
 
Singles Competition
1. Klaudia Gawlik (MCN) def. Polina Konop 6-4, 6-7, 7-6 (6)
2. Tatiana Larina (NSU) def. Lara Pujol 6-1, 6-0
3. Anastasia Surkova (MCN) def. Natalya Krutova 6-0, 6-4
4. Andrea Nedorostova (NSU) def. Andreea Nenu 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (6)
5. Olga Leyshyna (NSU) def. Diana Pirciu 6-3, 6-3
6. Annabelle Peacock (MCN) def. Daniela Simonova 6-4, 3-6, 6-0
 
Doubles Competition
1. Larina/Nedorostova (NSU) def. Pujol/Surkova 8-5
2. Konop/Krutova (NSU) def. Gawlik/Nenu 8-3
3. Simonova/Amy Williams (NSU) def. Pirciu/Peacock 9-8 (3)
 
Order of Finish
Singles: 2-3-5-6-4-1
Doubles: 2-1-3