BEAUMONT, Texas – First Team All-Southland Conference representatives Polina Konop, Tatiana Larina, Andrea Nedorostova and Natalya Krutova lead the fourth-seeded Northwestern State tennis team as it prepares to take on No. 5 Stephen F. Austin in the first round of the SLC Women's Tennis Tournament on Friday at 2 o'clock at the Beaumont Municipal Tennis Center.
 
The Lady Demons (11-7 overall, 6-3 SLC) most recently defeated No. 6 McNeese State (13-9, 4-5) 4-3 on Sunday, April 14.
 
SFA (10-12, 5-4) ended the season on a two-match losing streak, dropping matches against Lamar, 7-0, and Central Arkansas, 6-1.
 
NSU narrowly defeated the Ladyjacks 4-3 in their last meeting on March 29.
 
“We feel well prepared for the SLC Tournament,” said Lady Demon head coach Patric DuBois. “We plan to go at each team match in this tournament as we always do, with a lot of focus, intensity and effort.
 
“We have a very tough match in the opening round against SFA. They are the defending champions until someone takes it away and they are a talented, well-coached team. We played well against them earlier this season and are prepared to do so again on Friday.”
 
Konop, an All-SLC selection in singles and doubles, leads the Lady Demons in singles action with a team-best record of 14-4. The junior dropped just two conference matches this season, both in third set 7-6 tiebreakers, to earn a Southland record of 7-2.
 
Konop paired up with Krutova, a freshman, in doubles competition to win the regular-season title at the No. 2 position after compiling a perfect 9-0 record in the SLC. The duo went 14-4 on the season, the second-best for NSU.
 
Larina, another All-SLC selection in singles and doubles, went 13-5 overall and won the regular-season championship at the No. 2 singles position with an 8-1 Southland record.
 
Larina and senior captain Nedorostova teamed up to go 15-3 in doubles play and are regular-season champions at the No. 1 spot with a 7-2 record.
 
If the Lady Demons defeat SFA they will advance to the semifinals to play the winner of the No. 1 Southeastern Louisiana and No. 8 Central Arkansas match. The semifinals match is set for 2 p.m. on Saturday.