NATCHITOCHES—With the Southland Conference Tournament in view, the league-leading Northwestern State women's tennis team will meet Incarnate Word at 11 a.m. after a Senior Day presentation honoring lone senior Polina Ivanova at Jack Fisher Tennis Complex.

The Lady Demons (13-6 overall, 7-1 in the Southland) are using all available resources from regular practices to a thrice-postponed non-conference doubleheader to stay fresh and ready for their final three regular season matches.

In its most recent league meeting (March 30), NSU was handed its first conference loss after Abilene Christian (12-7, 6-3) prevailed in a tight 4-3 battle.

Just a few days later (April 2), the Lady Demons defeated both Louisiana Tech and Grambling in a non-conference doubleheader that had been postponed three times from the original date because of repetitive inclement weather.

Both experiences were positive opportunities for the squad as the Southland Tournament approaches. The SLC Tournament Tournament champion gets an automatic spot in the NCAA Tournament, a feat the Lady Demons accomplished three times this decade (2010, 2013, 2015).

"While it was a tough loss at (Abilene Christian), it was a good match by both teams," said head coach Patric DuBois. "Playing and winning some non-conference matches this week helps us stay sharp and prepares us for this stretch of the SLC regular season."

Incarnate Word (5-14, 3-5 before its SFA match Saturday) has been a part of the league since 2014 and currently shares the seventh position with New Orleans in the conference standings.

Teams must be in the top eight to play in the league tournament, so every match is critical at this point in the season.

Sweeping the Cardinals with 7-0 scores in three of its only four meetings, NSU has allowed just two points to UIW in their 2015 match (5-2 NSU win).

However, the Lady Demons refuse to be complacent in this season's competitive league play.

"All matches at this time of the year are difficult no matter who you play," DuBois said. "The SLC is as strong top to bottom as I have ever seen. I expect that we will compete this weekend as we always do with high energy."

In addition to her Senior Day honor, Ivanova may reach higher historical placement after Sunday's action.

Should she win her singles match, her overall record in singles will improve to 53-25, moving her into a tie for ninth for most career singles wins in Lady Demon history.

Ivanova also leads in doubles this season with partner Polina Mutel with a 13-2 record in the No. 1 slot. Mutel is also on top with a 13-4 singles record, mostly at the No. 1 position.

Sunday's match against UIW is the only competition of the weekend after Saturday's Texas A&M-Corpus Christi contest was pushed to April 21 in Natchitoches because of severe weather.

The Lady Demons will complete their road schedule Saturday at Central Arkansas.