NATCHITOCHES – Northwestern State begins defense of its Southland Conference women's tennis championship at home Saturday at 11 against undefeated Central Arkansas, and also squares off against Grambling in a 2:30 match at the Jack Fisher Tennis Complex.
 
The Lady Demons (2-6) have played a very challenging non-conference schedule, capped by a 4-1 victory last Saturday over Southern Mississippi. UCA is 5-0, including wins over Arkansas State and Southern Illinois, but has not played since Valentine's Day due to winter weather wiping out five matches.
 
NSU is led by senior Tatiana Larina and junior Natalya Krutova atop the singles lineup. Krutova is the reigning Southland Conference Player of the Week after sparkling against USM.
 
First-year Lady Demons coach Olga Bazhanova, an assistant coach last season and a player on NSU's 2010 Southland championship team, is pleased to open league play at home.
 
"First of all, playing at home is very exciting. It's the first home conference match, and that adds to it. UCA will be a challenging team but we are ready to play and dominate," she said. "Even though we have a young team, we're confident."
 
Playing two matches in one day with a lineup that is shortened to six healthy players isn't a concern for her, because of the rigors of individual draw tournaments all fall along with the Florida Gulf Coast event which opened the spring season nearly two months ago.
 
"We have to do our best from the beginning. We have to anticipate, build some momentum in doubles, and do well in singles. We have a team that is physically and mentally ready to play two matches, and it will be good competition for us," said Bazhanova.
 
The 2-6 record isn't reflective of the caliber of the NSU team, she said.
 
"We haven't had as many wins as a team as we hoped to have, but we've had very good competition and wins individually in both singles and doubles. I'm looking forward to what the girls will do when they encounter the pressure of conference matches. What's most important is to enjoy the competition, do the right things at the right times, and win."