DALLAS – Lone senior Polina Konop propelled the Northwestern State tennis team to its first dual match victory of the spring season with a 4-3 win over No. 52 Southern Methodist Sunday afternoon in non-conference action.
 
The Lady Demons (1-0) notch their first team-win of the season as the Mustangs drop to 1-1.
 
"This was a great team effort. We played well in each position and found a way to scrap four points," said head coach Patric Dubois. "We had a good start in doubles, which has been a strength of ours over the years. I'm very proud of this whole team and the way they battled, and were willing to go out there and do their best to control the outcome."
 
Konop and Tatiana Larina pulled out a 6-4 triumph at No. 1 doubles, followed by Natalya Krutova and Kateryna Piatakova with a 6-2 win at No. 2.
 
Konop and Piatakova both battled in singles to secure the team win. Konop defeated Dasha Sharapova 6-3, 5-7, 10-5 at second singles, while Piatakova took down Anna Kate Anderson 4-6, 6-3, 10-5 at No. 3 singles.
 
Aliona Ladutska clinched a No. 6 slot with a 6-2, 7-5 score.
 
The Lady Demons remain on the road for the next few weeks with matches at Southern Mississippi on Saturday and Alabama-Birmingham on Sunday, both slated to begin at eleven o'clock.