NATCHITOCHES – The Northwestern State women's tennis team returns home to the Jack Fisher Tennis Complex Saturday at 11 a.m. for the first time since March 13 to face top ranked Southland Conference foe Abilene Christian.

The Lady Demons (11-6, 4-3 SLC) split their four road matches, beating Southeastern 6-1 and Stephen F. Austin 5-2.

With four matches remaining, NSU can make significant movement in the Southland standings. The Lady Demons are currently tied for fifth in the conference with McNeese State. The Cowgirls took a March 13 meeting in Natchitoches 5-2.

The Wildcats' (14-4, 6-1) conference-best record can largely be attributed to their 11-1 home record. ACU is 1-3 in only four road contests this season.

Against Southland competition, ACU is 29-11 in singles and 13-5 in doubles. Lucile Prothier is 7-0 in singles in SLC play and has won ten-straight singles matchups.

Northwestern State has relied on a strong doubles start in matches it has won this year. The Lady Demons must play well Saturday to take the doubles point. Between courts one and two, ACU is 26-7 in dual play.

Two doubles team for the Lady Demons have provided a significant boost in the No. 2 position. Junior Polina Ivanova and freshman Emilija Dancetovic have stepped into the No. 1 position recently, but held an 8-3 record on court two. Sophomore Iryna Vardanian and freshman Judit Castillo are 3-1. All of Vardanian's and Castillo's matches together have been against Southland competition.

Castillo has cruised through her freshman campaign. She is 10-2 in singles competition, splitting time between the Nos. 5 & 6 positions. Against Southland opponents, the Teruel, Spain native is 6-1 in singles and 4-1 in doubles.

Following Saturday's match, the Lady Demons will travel to Texas to face Texas A&M – CC and Incarnate Word on April 8 and 9, respectively. Northwestern State will return home to face Central Arkansas on April 14 at 11 a.m. for the final regular season contest of 2017 before the Southland Conference Tournament begins.