NATCHITOCHES – Hard-fought straight-set wins at the top of the singles lineup by Tatiana Larina, Natalya Krutova and Aliona Ladutska, after an 8-6 triumph by Polina Ivanova and Barbora Kollarova clinched the doubles point, kept reigning champion Northwestern State unbeaten in Southland Conference women's tennis Sunday.
 
The Lady Demons (8-6 overall, 4-0 in the Southland), winning their seventh straight match, posted a 5-2 victory over previously unbeaten Abilene Christian (5-1, 2-1) at the Jack Fisher Tennis Complex.
 
"It was a great match. Abilene is tough to play, a well-coached, disciplined team. Our girls played very, very well today, especially the top of our lineup," said first-year Lady Demons coach Olga Bazhanova.
 
After opening with the doubles point, NSU quickly went up 2-0 when Krutova prevailed 6-3, 6-2 in the No. 2 singles. Ladutska soon followed with a 6-2, 6-1 victory in the third position for a 3-0 lead.
 
"The doubles point was big because Abilene Christian plays smart doubles, and they execute well. They're doing the right things, so it came down to who could do it better, and we did it pretty well today," said Bazhanova, whose team got a dominant 8-1 victory from Larina and Krutova at No. 1 over Brittany Reed and Kaysie Hermsdorf.
 
"Natalie (Krutova) played well, very focused. She moves, she knows her game, she knows her opponents. I'm really proud of her, as I am the rest of the girls. Tanya (Larina), Aliona, Polina, they played very well today," said Bazhanova.
 
Larina had dominated the first set at No. 1, 6-0, but while she battled Reed in a tooth-and-nail second set, the Wildcats captured fifth and sixth singles matches, tightening the overall score to 3-2. With Ivanova having dropped the first set at No. 4 to Lucille Pothier in an 8-6 tiebreaker, Larina's outcome was pivotal.

She won three of the last four games to take the second set 7-5, clinching the overall match victory.
 
Ivanova caught fire after dropping the tiebreaker, rolling 6-1 in the second set to square her No. 4 battle. Tied at 6-all in the pro set format, she won the last four points for a 6-7 (6), 6-1, 10-6 win to close out Pothier.
 
 "It was a very good match. Polina competed well. Her opponent didn't give her any easy points, Polina had to earn it," said Bazhanova. "It came down to the tiebreaker for the third set, and Polina executed a little bit better."
 
While coming back from a 1-6 start to the season seems a dramatic turnaround, Bazhanova's confidence never wavered.
 
"Nothing's changed. I believe in my girls, and my girls are very good," she said. "They're improving, they work hard, they want to win, and they keep doing the right things all the time. That's what they have to do to win, and play well every day."
 
The Lady Demons showed appreciation for the fans immediately after Ivanova capped the match, cheering those in the stands.
 
"It wasn't warm Louisiana weather as we expected it to be, but it's great to win at home. We love our fans," said Bazhanova. "They give us energy and appreciate good tennis, and it was very good tennis today. Their support helped give us the extra push to win."
 
NSU goes to Stephen F. Austin next Saturday at 11 to open three straight Southland contests on the road. The Lady Demons are home again April 11-12 against Nicholls and McNeese.