NATCHITOCHES – Practice made perfect Wednesday for the red-hot Northwestern State women's tennis team.

Despite having an open weekend during the Mardi Gras holiday, just a week ahead of the start of Southland Conference play, the Lady Demons were sharp Wednesday, posting a pair of dominating shutout wins at the Jack Fisher Tennis Complex.

NSU (7-3) stretched its win streak to seven, blanking nationally-ranked NAIA neighbor LSU Alexandria 7-0, then blowing past Grambling 6-0. The two wins required less than five hours combined on a breezy, pleasantly warm March afternoon, with the Lady Demons winning all their singles contests in straight sets.

While the prospect of a weekend without competition just before the always-tough Southland season might have been a concern, it wasn't a possibility in the eyes of coach Olga Bazhanova.

"We're always ready. Break or no break, it doesn't matter, we practice tough," she said, "so we are ready to perform well in our matches. It's always nice to win, at home especially in front of our great fans. We really appreciate their support again today."

The Lady Demons' top two players, veterans Polina Ivanova and Polina Mutel, each posted 6-0, 6-0 singles wins. Mutel took her No. 2 match against LSUA (2-2) without dropping a game, then Ivanova swept unabated through her No. 1 outing against Grambling (0-7).

In both matches, NSU quickly secured the doubles point. Against LSUA, Ivanova and newcomer Emilija Dancetovic won 6-0 at No. 2, then newcomers Kateryna Avram and Vladislava Litvinova took the No. 3 match 6-1.  In the Grambling match, the Lady Demons got identical 6-1 victories by Mutel and Iryna Vardanian in the No. 1 position and from Ivanova/Dancetovic in the second slot.

"We competed very well. The girls came out focused and played to win, played aggressive. We grabbed momentum in doubles and then played very well in singles," said Bazhanova.

Ivanova/Dancetovic expanded their doubles win streak to six straight, dropping only one game in their pair of victories.

The most competitive singles contest Wednesday was the No. 1 battle between Ivanova and LSUA's Sara Andrade, a 7-5, 6-3 victory for NSU. In doubles, the hardest-fought match came in the No. 3 doubles against Grambling, a 7-5 triumph for Avram and Litvinova over Danna Galeano and Anastasya Reshetnikova.

Completing the non-conference portion of the schedule at 7-3, and on a long win streak, had Bazhanova beaming.

"We've competed against some strong teams and we've gotten several wins. You don't get the wins given to you," she said. "You have to play good, you have to stay focused and play aggressive. I'm proud of the girls for stepping up, our returners and our freshmen. I'm just excited and looking forward to starting conference play this weekend."

The Lady Demons go to Sam Houston State at 11 a.m. Saturday and visit Lamar Sunday at noon. The following weekend, March 11-12, NSU will host Southland foes McNeese and Nicholls at the Jack Fisher Tennis Complex.

Northwestern State 7, LSU-Alexandria 0
 
Wednesday, March 1 – Jack Fisher Tennis Complex, Natchitoches, LA
 
Singles competition
1. Polina Ivanova (NSU) def. Sara Andrade 7-5, 6-3
2. Polina Mutel (NSU) def. Gisella Amor 6-0, 6-0
3. Emilija Dancetovic (NSU) def. Laia Charles 6-2, 6-4
4. Vladislava Litvinova (NSU) def. Betsabet Hidalgo 6-2, 6-0
5. Judit Castillo (NSU) def. Ariadna Cabezas 6-4, 6-1
6. Kateryna Avram (NSU) def. Paula Gordillo 6-1, 6-4
 
Doubles competition
1. Iryna Vardanian/Polina Mutel (NSU) vs. Sara Andrade/Gisella Amor, unfinished
2. Polina Ivanova/Emilija Dancetovic (NSU) def. Laia Charles/Betsabet Hidalgo 6-0
3. Kateryna Avram/Vladislava Litvinova (NSU) def. Ariadna Cabezas/Paula Gordillo 6-1
 
Match Notes:
LSU-Alexandria 2-2
Northwestern State 6-3
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2); Singles (2,4,5,1,3,6)
 
Northwestern State 6, Grambling 0
 
Wednesday, March 1 – Jack Fisher Tennis Complex, Natchitoches, LA
 
Singles competition
1. Polina Ivanova (NSU) def. Tanyaradzwa Manguje 6-0, 6-0
2. Polina Mutel (NSU) def. Phonephathep Philavong 6-0, 6-3
3. Emilija Dancetovic (NSU) def. Keren Muswere 6-0, 6-1
4. Vladislava Litvinova (NSU) def. Anastasya Reshetnikova 6-4, 6-1
5. Judit Castillo (NSU) vs. Bryttish Burks, unfinished
6. Kateryna Avram (NSU) def. Danna Galeano, 6-2, 6-3
 
Doubles competition
1. Iryna Vardanian/Polina Mutel (NSU) def. Phonephathep Philavong/Keren Muswere 6-1
2. Polina Ivanova/Emilija Dancetovic (NSU) def. Tanyaradzwa Manguje/Bryttish Burks 6-1
3. Kateryna Avram/Vladislava Litvinova (NSU) def. Danna Galeano/Anastasya Reshetnikova 7-5
 
Match Notes:
Grambling 0-7
Northwestern State 7-3
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (1,4,3,6,2)