NATCHITOCHES—Northwestern State's Lady Demon tennis team didn't drop a set Sunday, overpowering Lamar 7-0 to cap a successful Southland Conference-opening weekend at Jack Fisher Tennis Complex.

In each of the top four singles positions, the Lady Demons (6-5 overall, 2-0 in the Southland) did have to fight off the Cardinals (1-6, 0-2) in competitive second sets, all ending with 6-4 decisions.

NSU, which edged Sam Houston State 4-3 on Friday, approached the match with intensity, prepared for tough, competitive play after last year's 6-1 loss against Lamar.

"I felt we played very intense from beginning to end," head coach Patric DuBois said. "We were all willing to grind the whole match to give us the best chance to win."

Sophomore Kateryna Avram provided her best performance of the season with a 6-2, 6-2 singles victory over Milena Belianovich in the No. 6 position.

"I was a little bit nervous because it's a conference match, but I still felt good," Avram said. "After the first set, I felt more confident against my opponent. It was good momentum to finish up the match."

Earning the day's first point for NSU was a quick, twofold clinch in doubles by Polina Mutel and Polina Ivanova in the No. 1 slot (6-2) and Judit Castillo and Avram at No. 2 (6-2).

The singles sweep couldn't have happened without a solid performance by each Lady Demon.

Castillo started NSU's singles success with a 6-2, 6-1 defeat of Natalia Molina at No. 5. Right on her tail was Avram closing out the No. 6 contest.

"We all came out today and did what we were supposed to do," Avram said. "We had a good process. Everybody was working hard, and we're proving it every day. It was a good win for us."

Scoring the clinching fourth point was senior Polina Ivanova, who swung past Sanja Jolic in the No. 2 slot, 6-3, 6-4. Quickly scoring the remaining NSU points were Polina Mutel at No. 1, No. 3 Emilija Dancetovic and Ela Iwaniuk at No. 4.

Next weekend, the Lady Demons visit McNeese and Nicholls in conference action. NSU is home again on March 16 against Southeastern Louisiana.
 

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Northwestern State 7 Lamar University 0
Jack Fisher Tennis Complex
Natchitoches, La.
 
Singles competition
1. Polina Mutel (NSU) def. Jasmin Buchta 6-2, 6-4
2. Polina Ivanova (NSU) def. Sanja Jolic 6-3, 6-4
3. Emilija Dancetovic (NSU) def. Amelie Vossgaetter 6-4, 6-4
4. Ela Iwaniuk (NSU) def. Kaela Di Giulio 6-1, 6-4
5. Judit Castillo (NSU) def. Natalia Molina 6-2, 6-1
6. Kateryna Avram (NSU) def. Milena Belianovich 6-2, 6-2
 
Doubles competition
1. Polina Mutel/Polina Ivanova (NSU) def. Jasmin Buchta/Natalia Molina 6-2
2. Judit Castillo/Kateryna Avram (NSU) def. Milena Belianovich/Sanja Jolic 6-2
3. Emilija Dancetovic/Ela Iwaniuk (NSU) vs. Amelie Vossgaetter/Anita Bozhko 5-3, unfinished
 
Match Notes:
Lamar University 2-6 (1-1)
Northwestern State 6-5 (2-0)
 
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2); Singles (5,6,2,1,3,4)
T-2:15 A-121