NATCHITOCHES – Hard-fought singles wins at the top of the lineup put Northwestern State over the top Friday in a 5-2 Southland Conference women's tennis win over visiting New Orleans at the Jack Fisher Tennis Complex.
 
NSU (6-9 overall, 2-3 in the Southland) won for the fifth time in seven matches heading into an 11 a.m. home match Saturday against Southeastern Louisiana (10-5, 5-2), which fell 5-2 Friday at Stephen F. Austin. UNO (8-3, 4-2) lost for only the second time in conference play.
 
The Lady Demons swept through the top two positions with 6-2 wins to claim the doubles point opening play. The lead moved to 3-0 with Polina Ivanova's 6-4, 6-3 victory in the No. 4 singles match and Natalya Krutova posting a 6-1, 7-6 (4) triumph at No. 1.
 
UNO's Brittany Johnson won at No. 5 to get the Privateers on the board, but NSU clinched the match with a 7-5, 6-4 victory by Polina Mutel in the No. 3 position.
 
The last two matches were settled in pro sets. NSU's Iryna Vardanian prevailed in a 6-7 (2), 7-5, 10-8 battle with Soledad Calderon at No. 2 before UNO's Yasmine Rashad edged Lady Demon freshman Alzbeta Veverkova 7-6 (4), 3-6, 10-3.
 
"It was very important for us to win today," said Lady Demon coach Olga Bazhanova. "We played well. We took the momentum in doubles. The girls fought hard in all the positions. The process was good, but we still have improvements to make.
 
"Natalie started very well, but ran into some difficulties before she found a way to win. That is her game and I'm very happy about that. Iryna had more unforced errors than she should have, but overall she played a good match. The Polinas, Ivanova and Mutel, had good days. Alzbeta had a tough, tough match and competed well."
 
Krutova's singles victory gave her sole possession of sixth in career wins (57) in school history, one shy of the 58 by Shirley Echaiz from 1979-82 for fifth. In doubles, she tied Karen Patel's 63 career wins that ranks sixth all-time at NSU, and needs one more win to equal her coach's 64 from 2009-12.
 
Bazhanova said NSU will be strongly tested Saturday by SLU.
 
"Tomorrow is not going to be an easy match. All the teams in our conference can play tennis. Whoever stays stronger and is willing to fight usually wins," she said.
 
Northwestern State 5, New Orleans 2
Jack Fisher Tennis Complex, Natchitoches
 
Singles competition
 
1. Natalya Krutova (NSU) d. Anna Segarra Rius 6-1, 7-6 (4)
2. Iryna Vardanian (NSU) d. Soledad Calderon 6-7 (2), 7-5, 10-8
3. Polina Mutel (NSU) d. Trang Dao 7-5, 6-4
4. Polina Ivanova (NSU) d. Hafsa Laraibi 6-4, 6-3
5. Brittany Johnson (UNO) d. Barbora Kollarova 6-3, 6-2
6. Yasmine Rashad (UNO) d. Alzbeta Veverkova 7-6 (4), 3-6, 10-3
 
Doubles competition
 
1. Natalya Krutova/Polina Ivanova (NSU) d. Soledad Calderon/Anna Segarra Rius  6-2
2. Polina Mutel/Iryna Vardanian (NSU) d. Hafsa Laraibi/Yasmine Rashad 6-2
3. Barbora Kollarova/Ilijana Ivic (NSU) vs. Brittany Johnson/Paula Garriga (UNO) unfinished
 
Match Notes:
 
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2); Singles (4,1,5,3,2,6)
 
Records -
Northwestern State 6-9, 2-3
New Orleans 8-3, 4-2
T- 2:30
A - 82