CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Natalya Krutova's 6-4, 6-1 win at fifth singles sealed a quarterfinal 4-0 win for the No. 1 Northwestern State tennis team over No. 8 Lamar in the Southland Conference Tennis Tournament Friday afternoon at the Thomas J. Henry Tennis Courts on the campus of Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.
 
The win for the Lady Demons (19-5 overall, 11-1 SLC) propels them into the semifinals on Saturday against the winner of No. 4 Nicholls vs. No. 5 Stephen F. Austin at two o'clock.
 
"I think we played well today, and we set the tone in doubles," said head coach Patric DuBois. "All three courts in doubles all played very well, and we were really confident going into singles. We all stayed focused on each particular court. We did what we wanted to in our process on each individual court, and we will be ready for whoever we play tomorrow and will try to do the same thing."
 
Kruotva also got things moving for NSU in doubles when she combined with freshman Kateryna Piatakova for an 8-1 triumph at second doubles over Lamar's (8-14, 5-7) Dariya Dashutina and Hanna Elfving. Aliona Ladutska and Daniela Simonova clinched the doubles point by defeating Anna Spengler and Katya Lapayeva 8-2. Polina Konop and Tatiana Larina led at No. 1 6-4 and left the game unfinished.
 
Piatakova put the Lady Demons up 2-0 in singles as she claimed the fourth slot 6-3, 6-1 over Lapayeva. Larina finished shortly after, defeating Caolina Masó 6-1, 6-2, followed by Krutova.
 
Konop, Ladutska and Simonova all led in their respective singles slots when the match ended.
 
In the regular season, Northwestern State defeated Nicholls and Stephen F. Austin. The Lady Demons traveled to Thibodaux and handed the Colonels a 5-2 decision just a few weeks ago, and edged SFA 4-3 early in the conference season.
 
 
Singles
1. Polina Konop (NSU) vs. Dariya Dashutina 6-2, 4-4, unfinished
2. Tatiana Larina (NSU) def. Carolina Masó 6-1, 6-2
3. Aliona Ladutska (NSU) vs. Alicia Porte 6-1, 5-4, unfinished
4. Kateryna Piatakova (NSU) def. Katya Lapayeva 6-3, 6-1
5. Natalya Krutova (NSU) def. Anna Spengler 6-4, 6-1
6. Daniela Simonova (NSU) vs. Hanna Elfving 7-5, 2-1, unfinished
 
Doubles
1. Polina Konop/Tatiana Larina (NSU) vs. Carolina Masó/Alicia Porte 6-4, unfinished
2. Natalya Krutova/Kateryna Piatakova (NSU) def. Dariya Dashutina/Hanna Elfving 8-1
3. Aliona Ladutska/Daniela Simonova (NSU) def. Anna Spengler/Katya Lapayeva 8-2
 
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3); Singles (4,2,5)