NATCHITOCHES – Northwestern State's women's tennis team gets back to action Sunday afternoon at 1, starting a stretch of three home appearances in six days in a key stretch of the Southland Conference season when Stephen F. Austin visits the Jack Fisher Tennis Complex.

The Lady Demons have won four of their last five matches, but haven't played since March 7. They are 5-8 overall and 1-2 in the Southland. SFA is 7-6 overall and 1-2 in conference play.

NSU hosts UNO next Friday and Southeastern Louisiana next Saturday in two more Southland contests.

"SFA is a strong team and we expect to have a tough match," said second-year NSU coach Olga Bazhanova. "We have to keep playing smart and be more consistent on every court.

"Our senior, Natalya (Krutova), is feeling stronger on the court in practice as well as the rest of the girls, which is encouraging. To have a good outcome Sunday, we have to stick with the right game plan and anticipate well," said Bazhanova.

Krutova tops the team in doubles wins with an 8-3 mark. Her most frequent No. 1 partner, Polina Ivanova, is 7-1 in doubles and singles, playing the lower three slots in the singles lineup.

Iryna Vardanian is 7-6, mostly at No. 2, in singles, while Polina Mutel is 7-5, mostly at No. 3.