By: Brittany Russ, Sports Information Graduate Assistant
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Despite securing the doubles point, the No. 67 Northwestern State tennis team aborbed its first loss of the season in a 4-3 battle with Alabama-Birmingham Sunday afternoon at George Ward Park.
The Lady Demons drop to 2-1 overall as the Blazers improve to 2-3.
"This was a very disappointing loss as we had our chances to win," said head coach Patic DuBois. "A lot of credit goes to UAB for fighting hard and hanging in there in some very close matches."
Polina Konop and
Tatiana Larina combined at No. 1 doubles for a quick 6-1 win, as
Natalya Krutova and
Kateryna Piatakova battled in the second slot for a 7-5 triumph to secure the point after
Aliona Ladutska and Amy Willams fell 6-1 at No. 3.
Krutova and Ladutska pulled out the only singles wins for NSU. Krutova defeated Catherine Ragon at No. 4 6-1, 6-1, while Ladutska fought through in the fifth slot for a 7-6 (4), 6-1 triumph.
Konop and Piatakova came up just short at No. 2 and No. 3 singles, respectively, both falling in third set tiebreakers, 12-10.
Larina dropped a 6-1, 6-1 decision at No. 1, while
Daniela Simonova fell 6-3, 6-4 at No. 6.
Northwestern State remains on the road next weekend with matches against Auburn in New Orleans on Saturday at 10 o'clock and at LSU on Sunday at noon. The Lady Demons will open their home slate against Louisiana-Lafayette and Texas-San Antonio on Feb. 22 and 23, respectively. Both matches are slated to begin at 10 a.m. at the Jack Fisher Tennis Complex.
Doubles
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Polina Konop/Tatiana Larina (NSU) def. Rachel Daniell/Elaine Simon 6-1
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Natalya Krutova/Kateryna Piatakova (NSU) def. Amy Lowther/Catherine Ragon 7-5
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Pardis Llanoush/Paula Castro (UAB) def. Aliona Ladutska/Amy Williams 6-1
Singles
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Rachel Daniell (UAB) def. Tatiana Larina 6-1, 6-1
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Amy Lowther (UAB) def. Polina Konop 6-3, 0-6, 12-10
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Pardis Klanoush (UAB) def. Kateryna Piatakova 6-4, 3-6, 12-10
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Natalia Krutova (NSU) def. Catherine Ragon 6-1, 6-1
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Aliona Ladutska (NSU) def. Elaine Simon 7-6 (4), 6-1
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Paula Castro (UAB) def. Daniela Simonova 6-3, 6-4
