NATCHITOCHES – With a big crowd Monday afternoon at the Jack Fisher Tennis Complex, and the home team riding a four-match win streak, Northwestern State and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi staged a titanic battle of the league's top two programs this decade.
 
When the Lady Demons secured the doubles point in dramatic fashion, as Polina Mutel and Iryna Vardanian rallied for a 7-6 (4) victory at No. 2, it looked like the Islanders' unbeaten record was in jeopardy.
It was, but they responded with a vengeance. A&MCC overwhelmed NSU in two of the bottom three singles positions to tie the match, then outslugged the Lady Demons atop the lineup to post a 5-2 Southland Conference women's tennis victory.
 
The Islanders improved to 10-0 overall and won their conference debut. The Lady Demons slipped to 5-8 overall, 1-2 in the conference, despite Polina Ivanova sweeping her singles and doubles action.
"It was a tough match. We knew Corpus Christi was a good team, very well coached. They keep lots of balls in play and they fight on every single point," said second-year Lady Demons coach Olga Bazhanova. "It was a huge advantage for us to win the doubles point. The girls fought hard and played well.
 
"We knew singles would be an equally tough fight, and unfortunately we had too many unforced errors on too many of the courts," she said. "That's where we have to improve. Corpus Christi was better than us today."
 
The match was a slugfest atop both the doubles and singles lineups. Down 1-0, NSU drew even when Natalya Krutova and Ivanova finished a rugged 6-4 victory over Judit Vives and Jelena Dzinic. Minutes later, Mutel/Vardanian set off a roar when they powered through the tiebreaker 7-4 to edge Celia Rodriguez and Maider Martin and claiming the doubles point.
 
But Ivanova's 6-4, 6-3 win at No. 5 singles was the only point NSU added. The top three singles matches were intense battles. Vives put A&MCC up 3-2 with a 6-3, 6-3 decision over Polina Mutel at No. 3. The match outcome was settled when the Islanders captured the No. 1 match with Hortense Boscher holding off Krutova 6-3, 7-5, coming back to win the second set. Dzinic outlasted a valiant Vardanian 6-4, 6-4 to end the afternoon's action.
 
"The girls are improving, working hard, fighting hard," said Bazhanova. "With experience we'll get better. We have huge potential, we just have to develop being consistent."
 
The crowd in the stands at the Fisher Complex was noted by the NSU coaches and players.
 
"We love our fans," Bazhanova said. "We thank all of the athletes, many from the football team, the volleyball team, and everyone who came out. It makes a difference and we really appreciated the support we got today."
 
The Lady Demons hope forecasted rain clears on Friday to allow a home non-conference match at 2 against LSU Alexandria. They travel to play a Southland match Sunday at Abilene Christian, and don't play another conference contest at home until March 20 against Stephen F. Austin to open a three-match homestand.
 
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 5, Northwestern State 2
March 7 at Jack Fisher Tennis Complex, Natchitoches
 
Singles competition
1. Hortense Boscher (AMCC) def. Natalya Krutova 6-3, 7-5
2. Jelena Dzinic (AMCC) def. Iryna Vardanian  6-4, 6-4
3. Judit Vives (AMCC) def. Polina Mutel 6-3, 6-3
4. Celia Rodriguez (AMCC) def. Barbora Kollarova 6-1, 6-1
5. Polina Ivanova (NSU) def. Maider Martin 6-4, 6-3
6. Kerry Galhos (AMCC) def. Alzbeta Veverkova  6-2, 6-1
 
Doubles competition
1. Natalya Krutova/Polina Ivanova (NSU) def. Judit Vives/Jelena Dzinic  6-4
2. Polina Mutel/Iryna Vardanian (NSU) def. Celia Rodriguez/Maider Martin 7-6 (4)
3. Hortense Boscher/Alexandra Belle (AMCC) def. Barbora Kollarova/Ilijana Ivic 6-2
 
Match Notes:
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (4,5,6,3,1,2)
Northwestern State 5-8, 1-2
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 10-0, 1-0