HATTIESBURG, Mississippi—Battling until the last swing, the Northwestern State tennis team defeated Southern Miss, 5-2, for the first win of the season Friday after grinding out three three-set singles wins.

The Lady Demons (1-3) won five of six singles matches after dropping the doubles point.

"I am very proud of the outstanding effort of all six ladies today in a hard-fought win over Southern Miss, especially after losing a hard-fought doubles point," said interim head tennis coach Patric DuBois. "We were tied 2-2 after solid wins from (Polina Ivanova and Ela Iwaniuk), and we needed to win two of those three matches that were in the third set."

Judit Castillo proved her readiness on the court with a three-set victory in the No. 6 slot in her first match of the season. Castillo, who's coming off an injury, won 4-6, 6-1, 6-3.

Emilija Dancetovic fought resiliently through a 2.5-hour marathon for her point (5-7, 6-2, 6-4 winner) in the No. 4 slot.

In the No. 1 position, Polina Mutel saved two match-points to force a third set then clinched the team victory against Universal Tennis Rank holder, Arina Amaning (3-6, 7-6, 6-2).

All three three-set wins came after NSU players lost the first set.

"Judit fought hard and came off the court first, then Mutel battled all the way through," DuBois said. "Then Dancetovich hung in there to squeak out her victory. It says a lot that these girls didn't panic after losing the first sets."

Lady Demons Polina Mutel/Polina Ivanova won in the doubles round, but NSU's two other pairs fell as Southern Miss captured the doubles' point.

NSU and Southern Miss were tied 2-2 in singles points after solid wins by Ivanova and Ela Iwaniuk in the No. 2 slot and No. 3 slot, respectively. Ivanova (6-3, 6-1) and Iwaniuk (7-5, 6-1) won in straight sets.

The Lady Demons won't celebrate their first victory too long as they return to action Monday at SMU at 5:30 p.m.
 

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Northwestern State 5, Southern Mississippi 2

Singles Competition
1. Polina Mutel (NSU) def. Arina Amaning (USM) 3-6, 7-6 (2), 6-2
2. Polina Ivanova (NSU) def. Rikeetha Pereira (USM) 6-3, 6-1
3. Ela Iwaniuk (NSU) def. Tjasa Jerse (USM) 7-5, 6-1
4. Emilija Dancetovic (NSU) def. Tanit Lopez Lopez (USM) 5-7, 6-2, 6-4
5. Elena Roca (USM) def. Kateryna Avram (NSU) 6-0, 6-3
6. Judit Castillo (NSU) def. Claudia Castella (USM) 4-6, 6-1, 6-3

Doubles Competition
1. Polina Mutel / Polina Ivanova (NSU) def. Arina Amaning/Tjasa Jerse (USM) 6-1
2. Lara Isis De Oliveira/Tanit Lopez Lopez (USM) def. Ela Iwaniuk/Judit Castillo (NSU) 6-4
3. Rikeetha Pereira/Claudia Castella (USM) def. Emilija Dancetovic/Kateryna Avram (NSU) 6-4

Match Notes:
Northwestern State (1-3)
Southern Mississippi (4-2)

Order of Finish:
Doubles: (1, 2, 3)
Singles: (2, 3, 5, 6, 1, 4)