NATCHITOCHES – Making their first dual match homecourt appearance since playing in the 2015 NCAA Tournament, a young Northwestern State team plays host to UL Monroe Wednesday at 1:30 at the Jack Fisher Tennis Complex.
 
Senior Natalya Krutova will top the lineup for NSU, which has four newcomers on the seven-woman roster. The Lady Demons have dropped road matches at Louisiana Tech and SMU to open the spring dual match season.
 
"We are excited to host our first home match this spring. ULM is a strong state team and it will be a competitive match," said second-year NSU coach Olga Bazhanova. "We have to focus on the right process and play well to win."
 
ULM is 3-0 by virtue of three 4-3 victories over Southland Conference squads, winning at Nicholls and Central Arkansas and in a home match against McNeese State.
 
Wednesday's is the first of three home matches this month in the non-conference portion of the schedule. After a Saturday visit to Southern Mississippi, the Lady Demons will host Texas State and Alcorn State on Feb. 19-20.
 
The Southland season begins Feb. 28 at UCA.