NATCHITOCHES – For a second straight day, Northwestern State made quick work of an old Southland Conference opponent, quickly clinching the match victory Monday over Texas State in an eventual 5-2 women's tennis decision.
 
In windy and warm weather at the Jack Fisher Tennis Complex, NSU blew away the visitors in doubles and rapidly posted three straight-set singles triumphs to reach the match-clinching fourth point in relatively short order. All of the action was wrapped up in just 2:30 as the Lady Demons won for the third time in four outings, raising their record to 3-4.
 
Following a 5-2 win over UT San Antonio Sunday in their home debut, the Lady Demons dispatched Texas State (0-5) with dominating play at the top and bottom of the lineup.
 
Judit Castillo lost only two games combined in singles and doubles, teaming with Ela Iwaniuk for a 6-0 romp at No. 3 doubles, then rolling 6-0, 6-2 in the sixth singles position.
 
Polina Ivanova was nearly as dominant, combining with Polina Mutel for a 6-2 victory at No. 1 that clinched the doubles point, then cruising 6-1, 6-2 in the No. 2 singles match to make the match score 2-0.
 
Castillo's singles triumph made it 3-0. Mutel locked away the overall outcome not long afterward, 6-1, 7-5 over Ana Perez in the No. 1 singles contest.
 
For Castillo, a sophomore who missed the early part of the dual match season and time in the fall with an injury, getting back into action has been fun. Excelling this weekend was, also.
 
"Knowing your teammates are going to fight hard on every single point is something that gives you confidence," she said. "I knew what I needed to do. I was staying confident and in the process.
 
"Having the injury made me come back stronger. It was a hard time for the team, knowing you were going to lose a point in singles and be down a position in doubles, but I was going to the tournaments and doing all I could to prepare," she said. "The time away made me stronger."
 
Another sophomore, Emilija Dancetovic, scored NSU's final point Monday in dramatic style. After dropping a second-set tiebreaker 7-5 to Rishona Israel-Lewis, she took control in the super tiebreaker and prevailed 10-4.
 
"I had a little pressure in the second set, but found a way to win," she said.
 
Dancetovic said she and her veteran teammates weren't bothered by the breezy conditions Monday.
 
"We played with a lot of wind last season, so we had experience and so this should not be a problem," she said.
 
The Lady Demons won't be home again until their Southland Conference opener Friday, March 2 against Sam Houston State. This weekend, they go to Houston for a neutral site match Saturday against Connecticut and a Sunday contest at the University of Houston.
 
 
Northwestern State 5, Texas State 2
Jack Fisher Tennis Complex, Natchitoches, La.

Singles competition
1. Polina Mutel (NSU) def. Ana Perez  6-1, 7-5
2. Polina Ivanova (NSU) def. Julia Navajo-Melendez  6-1, 6-2
3. Emilija Dancetovic (NSU) def. RIshona Israel-Lewis  6-1, 6-7 (5-7), 10-4
4. Alex Jones (TXST) def. Ela Iwaniuk  6-4, 2-6, 6-2
5. Joy Chia Ming Ming (TXST) def. Kateryna Avram 6-4, 6-7 (5-7), 11-9
6. Judit Castillo (NSU) def. Sofia Murcia-Rodriguez 6-0, 6-2

Doubles competition
1. Ivanova/Mutel (NSU) def. Perez/Navajo-Melendez  6-2
2. Avram/Dancetovic (NSU) vs. Israel-Lewis/Jones  4-3, unfinished
3. Castillo/Iwaniuk (NSU) def. Chia Ming Ming/Murcia-Rodriguez 6-0

Match Notes
Texas State 0-5
Northwestern State 3-4
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1); Singles (2,6,1,3,5,4)
T-2:30 A-101