LAKE CHARLES – McNeese State's three-point comeback in Sunday's Southland Conference tennis match gave Northwestern State its first league loss of the season, and a 4-3 victory for the Cowgirls at the Nancy Hank Center.

With the loss, the Lady Demons dropped to 15-5 overall, 8-1 in the SLC as the Cowgirls improved to 13-6, 8-2.

"This was a very good, high level, collegiate tennis match, and unfortunately, we came up just short," said head coach Patric DuBois. "A lot of credit to McNeese, who played very well, and had a great crowd to support them. We played well in all positions, and this match could have gone either way. I am very proud of our effort, and the way we competed. After a day off, we will prepare for some big Southland matches at home on Friday and Saturday."

NSU put up a 3-1 lead after securing the doubles point with wins from Natalya Krutova and Kateryna Piatakova at the No. 2 position, and Aliona Ladutska and Daniela Simonova at third doubles. Krotova and Piatakova won with ease, 8-1, while Ladutska and Simonova battled through an 8-6 set.

Polina Konop and Tatiana Larina fell at first doubles 8-5.

McNeese evened the score at one with a win at sixth singles as Simonoa suffered the 6-2, 6-1 loss. Ladutska and Piatakova put the Lady Demons back on top with consecutive wins at No. 5 and No. 4 singles, respectively. Ladutska captured the fifth position 6-2, 6-2, followed by Piatakova at 6-2, 6-3.

The Cowgirls secured all three of the remaining positions in the tiebreaker. Konop dropped first singles 5-7, 6-0, 1-6, before Larina fell at No. 2 3-6, 6-4, 2-6, and Krutova's 6-1, 2-6, 5-7 loss at third singles.

Northwestern State returns home on Friday to host Lamar and Grambling at 11:00 and three o'clock, respectively, and Sam Houston State on Saturday, also at 11:00. All three matches will be held at the Jack Fisher Tennis Complex.

 
Singles
1. Klaudia Gawlik def. Polina Konop (NSU) 7-5, 0-6, 6-1
2. Sara Castellano def. Tatiana Larina (NSU) 6-3, 4-6, 6-2
3. Julia Kral def. Natalya Krutova (NSU) 1-6, 6-2, 7-5
4. Kateryna Piatakova (NSU) def. Anastasia Surkova 6-2, 6-3
5. Aliona Ladutska (NSU) def. Vivien Borbely 6-2, 6-2
6. Annabelle Peacock def. Daniela Simonova (NSU) 6-2, 6-1

Doubles
1. Klaudia Gawlik/Sara Castellano def. Polina Konop/Tatiana Larina (NSU) 8-5
2. Natalya Krutova/Kateryna Piatakova (NSU) def. Anastasia Surkova/Vivien Borbely 8-1
3. Aliona Ladutska/Daniela Simonova (NSU) def. Julia Kral/Annabelle Peacock 8-6

Oder of finish: 6, 5, 4, 1, 3, 2