BATON ROUGE – In its first dual match of the season and under first-year coach Olga Bazhanova, Northwestern State barely missed claiming the doubles point but then 37^th-ranked LSU took control in a 7-0 women's tennis matchup Saturday.
 
The Lady Demons tied the doubles at 1-1 when Tatiana Lariana and Aliona Ladutska finished a 6-3 victory in the No. 1 match over LSU's Abigail Owens and Skylar Kuykendall. The Tigers (4-1) notched the doubles point to open play with a 7-5 triumph by Joana Vale Costa and Madara Straume over NSU's Polina Ivanova and Emily Kerry.
 
LSU posted five straight set wins in singles. Ivanova and LSU's Skylar Holloway staged a three-set battle that went to Holloway by a 6-4, 5-7, 7-5 score.

"It is a tough loss but the girls played well. We had chances to break games on several courts but did not succeed," said Bazhanova. "It was a very good effort from all the girls in doubles and singles. LSU played aggressive and more consistent than us under pressure."
 
The Lady Demons open their home season Tuesday at 1 against UL Monroe at the Jack Fisher Tennis Complex, and host Louisiana Tech next Friday at 1.
 
LSU 7, Northwestern State 0
 
At W.T. Robinson Stadium, Baton Rouge
 
Doubles
 
Tatiana Larina/Aliona Ladutska (NSU) d. Abigail Owens/Skylar Kuykendall 6-3
 
Ella Taylor/Skylar Holloway (LSU) d. Barbora Kollarova/Natalya Krutova 6-1
 
Joana Vale Costa/Madara Straume (LSU) d. Polina Ivanova/Emily Kerr 7-5
 
Singles
 
Vale Costa (LSU) d. Larina 6-1, 6-0
 
Kuykendall (LSU) d. Krutova 6-3, 6-3
 
Owens (LSU) d. Ladutska 6-3, 6-2
 
Taylor (LSU) d. Kollarova 6-2, 6-0
 
Holloway (LSU) d. Ivanova 6-4, 5-7, 7-5
 
Amanda Atansson (LSU) d. Kerr 6-2, 6-2
 
Records:
 
No. 37 LSU – 4-1
 
NSU – 0-1
 
Order of finish:  Doubles (2-1-3), Singles (1-4-6-3-2-5)