NATCHITOCHES – Northwestern State started its 2015 home opener strong, but ULM put together a rally in singles play to pick up a 4-3 victory Tuesday afternoon at the Jack Fisher Tennis Complex. The Lady Demons (0-2) rolled to the doubles point behind victories from the pairings of Tatiana Larina and Aliona Ladutska and Polina Ivanova and Emily Kerr. Larina and Ladutska downed ULM's Sophie Rufyikiri and Petra Horakova, 6-1, while Ivanova and Kerr dispatched Letha Gaigher and Jana Duhanova 6-3. The sweep left the doubles match between NSU's Natalya Krutova and Barbora Kollarova and ULM's Amy Olivier and Anandhi Botha unfinished. NSU led 5-2 at the time the match was called. In singles play, ULM (3-0) tied the match with wins from its Nos. 3 and 5 singles players. At No. 3, Horakova defeated Aliona Ladutska, 6-2, 6-2, while No. 5 Jana Duhanova downed NSU's Polina Ivanova, 6-2, 6-1. In between the ULM victories, NSU's No. 1 singles player, Larina, scored a straight-set victory against Amy Olivier, 6-1, 6-3. NSU freshman Emily Kerr battled back from dropping the first set to score a three-set victory at No. 6 singles, defeating Letha Gaigher, 2-6, 6-1, 6-2 to put NSU a win away from taking the match. ULM's Beata Kull evened the match with a 6-4, 6-3 win against Barbora Kollarova at No. 4 singles, setting up a winner-take-all matchup between NSU's Natalya Krutova and ULM's Sophie Rufyikiri at No. 2 singles. Krutova rallied after dropping the first set to force a third set, but Rufyikiri emerged victorious with a 6-3, 5-7, 6-0 win. "It was a tough loss," first-year head coach Olga Bazhanova said. "You have to give Monroe credit. They played well under pressure. Good process from our team, but not enough points. Very good doubles (play), especially from No. 1 (Larina/Ladutska). No. 2 (Krutova/Kollarova) played well. No. 3 (Ivanova/Kerr) started slow, but went on with the game." The Lady Demons return to action Friday when they host Louisiana Tech in the second game of a two-game homestand. It is NSU's last home match until Feb. 28 when the Lady Demons host Southern Mississippi. ULM 4, Northwestern State 3Singles competition1.
Tatiana Larina (NWLA) def. Amy Olivier (ULM) 6-1, 6-3
2. Sophie Rufyikiri (ULM) def.
Natalya Krutova (NWLA) 6-3, 5-7, 6-0
3. Petra Horakova (ULM) def.
Aliona Ladutska (NWLA) 6-2, 6-2
4. Beata Kull (ULM) def.
Barbora Kollarova (NWLA) 6-4, 6-3
5. Jana Duhanova (ULM) def.
Polina Ivanova (NWLA) 6-2, 6-1
6.
Emily Kerr (NWLA) def. Letha Gaigher (ULM) 2-6, 6-1, 6-2
Doubles competition1.
Tatiana Larina/
Aliona Ladutska (NWLA) def. Sophie Rufyikiri/Petra Horakova (ULM) 6-1
2.
Natalya Krutova/
Barbora Kollarova (NWLA) def. Amy Olivier/Anandhi Botha (ULM) unfinished
3.
Polina Ivanova/
Emily Kerr (NWLA) def. Letha Gaigher/Jana Duhanova (ULM) 6-3
Match Notes:ULM 3-0
Northwestern State 0-2
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3); Singles (3,1,5,6,4,2)
ULM 3-0
Northwestern State 0-2
T-2:26
