OXFORD, Mississippi--Three members of the Northwestern State tennis team made the quarterfinals at the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Southern Regional Friday on the campus of the University of Mississippi.

Senior Polina Mutel knocked off No. 64-ranked Jessica Golovin of LSU, while junior Ela Iwaniuk and freshman Antonia Blattner also advanced to the quarters.

"All four played well in singles in their victories," head coach Patric DuBois said. "Polina Mutel had a very good win against one of the top players in our region and the NCAAs. She'll have another opportunity (Saturday) against a nationally ranked opponent.

"We are very excited to have Ela and Antonia in the quarterfinals of their bracket. Antonia had a nice win against the No. 7 seed."

Senior Polina Mutel won her two matches, including an upset of the No. 3 seed Golovin. Blattner Iwaniuk followed Mutel into the quarters with convincing second-round victories.

After falling in set one against Golovin, Mutel bounced back to take the final two sets, 6-3 and 7-5 to win the match and advance to the quarterfinals. The reigning Southland Conference Player of the Year advanced to the second round after dispatching ULL's Dana Radovanovic in two sets.

Blattner won her matches in impressive fashion, especially against the No. 7 seed, ULM's Jimena Paula Garbino. The match was never in doubt, as Blattner cruised to a 6-0, 6-1 win. In the first round, the freshman had a decisive win over Nicholls' Mariia Kozachok 6-1, 6-3.

Like Mutel, Iwaniuk also fell behind after the first set to win a match. But unlike Mutel, the junior fell behind in her first set before rallying to win her final four sets of the matches to advance to the quarters. Iwaniuk won a thrilling match to start her singles day, defeating Samford's Mary Kathrine Lewis in three sets. She dominated her second round match against ULM's Teodora Radu, winning handily in both sets.

Skyba made it 4-for-4 in first match wins for the Lady Demons, advancing to the second round before losing by default. In the first round, Skyba bested ULM's Angeles Maria Cueto in two sets, 6-2, 6-2.

The Lady Demons split in doubles to start the day. Blattner and Iwaniuk defeated ULL's pairing of Clara Mantaux and Ai Noa Fabre 8-6, while Mutel and Skyba dropped a tough one to top-seeded LSU's duo of Golovin and Eden Richardson, which won the 2018 NCAA doubles national championship.

"I felt we had a very solid day," DuBois said. "All of our ladies played well. We battled hard against the 2018 NCAA national doubles champions with just a few points here and there separating us."

The tournament will continue on Saturday with the two doubles rounds, followed by the quarterfinals of singles.

The tournament will continue on Saturday with the two doubles rounds, followed by the quarterfinals of singles.

Here are the Friday results for NSU's entries in the ITA Southern Regional:

SINGLES

Draw 1
Maria Skyba (NSU) d. Angeles Maria Cueto (ULM) 6-2, 6-2
Maria Skyba (NSU) DNF
 

Draw 2
Polina Mutel (NSU) d. Dana Radovanovic (ULL) 6-1, 6-0
Polina Mutel (NSU) d. Jessica Golovin (LSU) 4-6, 6-3, 7-5
 

Draw 3
Ela Iwaniuk (NSU) d. Mary Kathrine Lewis (SAM) 2-6, 7-5, 6-4
Antonia Blattner (NSU) d. Mariia Kozachok (NICH) 6-1, 6-3
Ela Iwaniuk (NSU) d. Teodora Radu (ULM) 6-2, 6-1
Antonia Blattner (NSU) d. Jimena Paula Garbino (ULM) 6-0, 6-1
 

DOUBLES

Draw 1

Jessica Golovin/Eden Richardson d. Polina Mutel/Maria Skyba (NSU) 8-4

Draw 2

Ela Iwaniuk/Antonia Blattner d. Clara Mantaux/Ai Noa Fabre (ULL) 8-6