LAFAYETTE – Northwestern State freshmen Maria Skyba and Antonia Blattner won their singles draws on the final day of the Ragin' Cajun Invitational on Saturday to wrap up the UL Lafayette-hosted tournament.

"I was very happy with the energy, intensity and effort of all four ladies," said NSU coach Patric DuBois. "We played solid tennis all weekend."

Skyba continued her strong play, winning her second draw in as many weeks, as she won in straight sets over UL Monroe's Emilia Alfaro. The first set of the match went to a tiebreaker, which Skyba won 14-12, before a convincing 6-2 victory in the second set to win the match.

Much like Skyba this past weekend, Blattner won her draw in her first collegiate tournament. The freshman won her first set against UL Lafayette's Hoda Habib, but lost her second before rebounding to win the pro set in dominant fashion, 10-0.

"I was pleased to see our two freshmen play with such poise under pressure situations," DuBois said.

After falling in the opening singles match Friday, junior Judit Castillo won her second match Friday and won again in singles Saturday to finish fifth in Draw 3. Castillo lost the first set to Lamar's Natalia Molina but won the final two sets in dominant fashion to win the match.

Junior Ela Iwaniuk made the finals in Draw 2 but fell to Lamar's Bianca Vitale. After winning the first set, she lost the final two sets, including the pro set 10-8 to lose the match.

The doubles pair of Iwaniuk and Castillo made it to the finals but fell to Louisiana Tech's duo of Sonia Chen and Claudia Oravcova. DuBois pulled the doubles pairing of Skyba and Blattner because of a minor injury.

The NSU tennis team is back in action next weekend for a Friday-Sunday tournament at the SMU Invitational.

SINGLES
Draw 1
Maria Skyba (NSU) d. Emilia Alfaro (ULM) 7-6 (14-12), 6-2

Draw 2
Bianca Vitale (Lamar) d. Ela Iwaniuk (NSU) 3-6, 6-0, 10-8

Draw 3
Judit Castillo (NSU) d. Natalia Molina (Lamar) 3-6, 6-1, 10-3

Draw 4
Antonia Blattner (NSU) d. Hoda Habib (ULL) 6-1, 2-6, 10-0

DOUBLES
Draw 1
Ela Iwaniuk/Judit Castillo (NSU) d. Victoria Kareh/Brandelyn Fulgenzi (UIW) 6-4
Sonia Chen/Claudia Oravcova (LTU) d. Ela Iwaniuk/Judit Castillo (NSU) 6-4

Draw 2
Maria Skyba/Antonia Blattner (NSU) DNF