THIBODAUX – Northwestern State's trademark while making three NCAA Tournament appearances this decade has been superior starts in doubles play, but Saturday the Lady Demons overcame a rough opening and posted four singles wins to prevail 4-3 at Nicholls.
 
NSU evened its Southland Conference record at 4-4 and moved to 8-10 overall heading into an 11 a.m. match Sunday at McNeese (13-6 overall, 6-2 in the Southland).
 
Straight set singles wins from Alzbeta Veverkova at No. 6 and Natalya Krutova in the No. 1 match countered the opening loss of the doubles point and put the Lady Demons ahead for good.  Polina Ivanova's No. 4 victory, a 6-4, 7-5 decision over Laia Charles, pushed the visitors up 3-1.
 
The score tightened to 3-2 when Clemence Krug of Nicholls edged NSU's Barbora Kollarova 7-5, 7-6 (4) in the No. 5 match, but the Lady Demons clinched the outcome with Iryna Vardanian's comeback 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 triumph at No. 2 over Julia Melendez.
 
Although the match was settled, coaches decided to finish a titanic three-setter at No. 3, where Nicholls picked up the final point when Isla Brock won a final-set tiebreaker over Polina Mutel for a 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 (7) victory.
 
"We didn't play well in doubles but I am happy about the way the girls came around and competed well in singles," said Lady Demon coach Olga Bazhanova. "Nicholls' team fights all the time and to win, our girls showed a very fine team effort today."
 
Nicholls, one of the league's better teams in recent years, slipped to 6-15 overall and 1-7 in conference.
 
The Lady Demons won for the seventh time in 10 matches. Krutova's singles victory edged her into solo possession of sixth all-time on the NSU career singles wins list with 57.

Northwestern State 4, Nicholls 3
Colonel Tennis Complex, Thibodaux, LA

Singles competition
1. Natalya Krutova (NSU) def. Milou Pietersz 6-4, 6-2
2. Iryna Vardanian (NSU) def. Julia Melendez 2-6, 6-4, 6-4
3. Isla Brock (NICH) def. Polina Mutel 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 (9-7)
4. Polina Ivanova (NSU) def. Laia Charles 6-4, 7-5
5. Clemence Krug (NICH) def. Barbora Kollarova 7-5, 7-6 (7-4)
6. Alzbeta Veverkova (NSU) def. Andrea Mastrippolito 6-1, 6-0
 
Doubles competition
1. Natalya Krutova/Polina Ivanova (NSU) vs. Milou Pietersz/Julia Melendez (NICH) unfinished
2. Isla Brock/Laia Charles (NICH) def. Iryna Vardanian/Polina Mutel 6-3
3. Ambika Pande/Clemence Krug (NICH) def. Ilijana Ivic/Barbora Kollarova 6-4

Match Notes:
Northwestern State 8-10, 4--4
Nicholls 6-15, 1-7
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3); Singles (6,1,4,5,2,3)