SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Looking to recover from a tough loss on Saturday, the Northwestern State women's tennis team took a 7-0 win against Incarnate Word on Sunday.
 
Like Saturday, the Lady Demons (13-7, 6-4 Southland Conference) started with a strong performance in doubles, sweeping the point against the Cardinals (5-18, 2-8).
 
In doubles No. 2, freshmen Emilija Dancetovic and Kateryna Avram cruising against the Cardinals' Alejandra Tamayo and Maria Batchinsky with a 6-0 victory.
 
"It was a good bounce back after yesterday's match," head coach Bazhanova said. "We did a better job on staying more consistent with the process today."
 
Sophomore Iryna Vardanian and freshman Judit Castillo were faced with a much tighter match. Facing UIW's Victoria Kareh and Sarah Savedra, the Lady Demon duo clinched the doubles point with a 7-5 win.
 
Unlike Saturday, NSU kept momentum in singles and raced to the fourth and clinching point.
 
Playing in the No. 1 singles position, Vardanian won 6-3, 6-3 against Matea Zemunik to pick up the second point for the Lady Demons.
 
Sophomore Polina Mutel dominated the No. 3 singles position against Kareh. The Yaroslavl, Russia native won 6-1, 6-2 over her counterpart.
 
Clinching the match for the Lady Demons was freshman Judit Castillo for the second-straight weekend. Castillo defeated Tamayo 6-2, 6-3 to pick up the fourth point for NSU.
 
Following the clinching of the match, junior Polina Ivanova, Dancetovic and Avram each closed their matches with straight-set wins to give the Lady Demons the 7-0 sweep.
 
"The girls came out with a great intensity and showed strong leadership," Bazhanova said.
 
Next up for the Lady Demons is Central Arkansas in the final home match of the season. UCA (17-5, 6-2) is two games ahead of Northwestern State in the loss column, but the Sugarbears have two matches remaining before the regular season ends.
  

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Northwestern State 7, Univ. of the Incarnate Word 0
 
Singles competition
 
1. Iryna Vardanian (NSU) def. Matea Zemunik 6-3, 6-3
2. Polina Ivanova (NSU) def. Rachel Sadiq 6-3, 6-4
3. Polina Mutel (NSU) def. Victoria Kareh 6-1, 6-2
4. Emilija Dancetovic (NSU) def. Sarah Savedra 6-4, 6-2
5. Judit Castillo (NSU) def. Alejandra Tamayo 6-2, 6-3
6. Kateryna Avram (NSU) def. Maria Batchinsky 7-6 (11-9), 6-2
 
Doubles competition
 
1. Matea Zemunik/Rachel Sadiq (UIW) vs. Polina Ivanova/Polina Mutel 6-6, unfinished
2. Iryna Vardanian/Judit Castillo (NSU) def. Victoria Kareh/Sarah Savedra 7-5
3. Emilija Dancetovic/Kateryna Avram (NSU) def. Alejandra Tamayo/Maria Batchinsky 6-0
 
Match Notes:
Northwestern State 13-8, 6-4 SLC
Univ. of the Incarnate Word 5-18, 2-8 SLC
Order of Finish: Doubles (3, 2) Singles (1, 3, 5, 2, 4, 6)