BEAUMONT, Texas – Northwestern State knows what it takes to win the Southland Conference Women's Tennis Tournament which begins Friday, since the Lady Demons have done it twice this decade, and reached the finals last year.

The Lady Demons (13-8 overall) finished a close third, one win behind regular-season co-champions Nicholls and Stephen F. Austin, and coach Olga Bazhanova says those aren't the only contenders to win the three-day event hosted by Lamar.

"It's wide open. Each team is tough. It's a challenging tournament," she said. "We had very competitive matches throughout the season."

Having been successful in this event, including winning in 2010 and 2013 and coming very close in the finals last year, is an advantage for NSU, said Bazhanova.

"That's what we are here for, all the time, playing tennis to get to this weekend. We're going to have pressure, but the girls are going to enjoy it and they'll play good."

NSU will open play in the quarterfinals Friday at 2 against Central Arkansas (9-7 overall). It's the first Southland tourney appearance for UCA, which lost 4-1 at NSU on March 7, but is a much improved program.

"They've improved a lot since we played them in the first conference match. They're well coached," she said. "It will be tough."

The Lady Demons are led by All-Southland Conference selections Tatiana Larina and Natalya Krutova. They were unbeaten (11-0) in league play at No. 1 doubles and Krutova was a perfect 10-0 against Southland foes at No. 2 singles.

The winner advances to a Saturday semifinal against either SFA (16-6) or seventh-seeded New Orleans (14-10).

"I'm pleased with my team. We've had a challenging season and we've overcome injury and illness and every obstacle. We've lost to two conference opponents, but we also know what we need to do to be successful against them. We have to win our first match, and that's all we are concerned about."