NACOGDOCHES, Texas – Northwestern State took unbeaten Texas A&M-Corpus Christi down to the wire Sunday but the Islanders held off the Lady Demons with a 4-2 win in the championship match of the Southland Conference Women's Tennis Tournament, earning an NCAA Tournament berth.
 
A&M-CC (24-0) captured a second-set tiebreaker in the No. 1 singles to clinch the outcome and dethrone NSU (13-11) as tournament champions. It was the fourth straight conference tournament final appearance for NSU and the sixth in seven seasons this decade.
 
The Lady Demons had a six-match win streak snapped. They finished the season with 12 wins in their final 17 contests led by senior captain Natalya Krutova, whose magnificent career came to an end. The Academic All-America nominee finished ranked fourth all-time at NSU in career singles (60-25) and doubles (66-15) victories and is carrying a 4.0 grade point average toward graduation.

"It was a great fight from the team and I am proud of the way the girls competed. It is tough to lose when you give your 100 percent, but I know that it makes us only stronger as a team going forward," said second-year head coach Olga Bazhanova. "Congratulations to Corpus Christi. It's always tough to play them. They have had an amazing season. 

"Because of the way we competed, we had our chances to win today," she said, "but we didn't play as good as we could under the pressure."

A&M-CC picked up the doubles point with a pair of 6-1 decisions at Nos. 2 and 3, and never trailed afterward, although constantly under pressure.
 
The Islanders took a 2-0 lead with a straight-set victory at No. 5 singles, but NSU sophomore Polina Ivanova got NSU on the board minutes later with a 6-4, 6-1 triumph in the No. 4 position. The champs went ahead 3-1 with another straight-set decision at No. 6, but NSU freshman Iryna Vardanian captured the No. 2 singles 6-2, 6-2 to tighten the match to 3-2.
 
Lady Demon freshman Polina Mutel was up a set (6-3) in the No. 3 match, but A&M-CC's No. 1 player Hortense Boscher had taken the first set from Krutova 6-1.
 
Both remaining contests were nailbiters.

The No. 1 players stayed on serve all the way into a tiebreaker, while Mutel and Judit Vives were locked in a 5-5 battle at No. 3.

Boscher pulled away from a 3-3 deadlock in the tiebreaker, winning the last four points to capture the match and give the Islanders the title.

Bazhanova said the Lady Demons were grateful for the backing they've received all season long, and again this weekend during the tournament.
 
"I would like to say thanks to all of our fans who have been supporting us during the season and especially those who came out cheering us up this weekend," she said. "We have a reputation among our competition for the great support we have. It is a tremendous help for our girls and our program. "
 
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 4, Northwestern State 2
Southland Conference Women's Tennis Tournament Championship
Nacogdoches, Texas – Schlief Tennis Center
 
Singles competition
1. Hortense Boscher (AMCC) def. Natalya Krutova 6-1, 7-6 (7-3)
2. Iryna Vardanian (NSU) def. Jelena Dzinic 6-2, 6-2
3. Judit Vives (AMCC) vs. Polina Mutel 3-6, 5-5, unfinished
4. Polina Ivanova (NSU) def. Celia Rodriguez 6-4, 6-1
5. Maider Martin (AMCC) def. Barbora Kollarova 6-1, 6-3
6. Kerry Galhos (AMCC) def. Alzbeta Veverkova 6-2, 6-1
 
Doubles competition
1. Judit Vives/Jelena Dzinic (AMCC) vs. Natalya Krutova/Polina Ivanova 3-2, unfinished
2. Celia Rodriguez/Maider Martin (AMCC) def. Polina Mutel/Iryna Vardanian 6-1
3. Hortense Boscher/Alexandra Belle (AMCC) def. Barbora Kollarova/Alzbeta Veverkova 6-1
 
Match Notes:
Northwestern State 13-11
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 24-0
Order of Finish: Doubles (2, 3, uf) | Singles (5, 4, 6, 2, 1, uf)
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi receives an automatic bid to the 2016 NCAA Tournament
Official: Kathleen O'Conner T-2:31 A-82