NATCHITOCHES—The league-leading Northwestern State Lady Demons tennis team dives back into Southland Conference play at home against in-state rivals this weekend, with a Friday match against defending co-champion McNeese and a visit from Southeastern Louisiana Sunday.

Friday's contest at the Jack Fisher Tennis Complex begins with doubles play at 1 p.m. while Sunday's competition starts at 11 a.m.

In addition to McNeese tying with Texas A&M-Corpus Christi for the 2018 conference regular season championship, the Cowgirls defeated NSU 4-1 in last year's Southland Tournament title game to reach the NCAA Tournament.

The Lady Demons (13-3 overall, 5-0 Southland Conference) are coming off a 3-1 weekend, which included a 4-3 conference win against Lamar. These will be the fifth and sixth home matches in the last seven for NSU.

McNeese (7-6, 2-2) is coming off an open weekend, and has not played since March 16 when it won a 6-1 decision against Southeastern.

SLU (2-3, 5-8) has alternated wins and losses so far during conference play, falling to three of the top teams in the conference – Abilene Christian, McNeese and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.

"It's another big weekend for us, and we're happy to be at home," head coach Patric DuBois said. "(McNeese) won both the conference regular season and tournament title last year and competed really well at the NCAAs. We expect a big battle on Friday."

NSU edged McNeese in Lake Charles 4-3 last year before the Cowgirls avenged that outcome in the year's biggest match to get into the NCAAs.

After dropping close doubles points the past two conference matches, the Lady Demons flexed their muscles in singles against Central Arkansas and Lamar, winning in four slots to take each match 4-3. The Nos. 3-6 positions are a combined 17-3 in SLC action, led by redshirt freshman Rhea Verma (10 wins overall) and junior Ela Iwaniuk (11), who are each a perfect 5-0 in Southland matches and are in double digits in overall wins.

Junior Judit Castillo Gargallo leads the squad in overall victories with 12, which matches last year's total that earned her a second-team All-SLC honor at No. 5 singles.

Sophomore Patrycja Polanska is 3-2 in conference play at No. 4 singles in her first season of college action, including three wins in her last four.

Polina Mutel is coming off an impressive win against Lamar to improve her record in SLC play to 2-3 at No. 1. As the lone senior on the team, she is soaking in what she can as she enters her final weeks with the team.

"This year has been going pretty fast," Mutel said. "I just realized this is my last season and I am kind of getting nervous about it because I won't have any more chances to play with my teammates. The year is tough, but I am enjoying it."

Maria Skyba dropped a tough one against Lamar, but her improvement throughout the four matches last weekend excites DuBois.

"Maria's a very good player," DuBois said. "She's had her ups and downs, but she's had a lot of good matches this year. She showed her talent level by playing at No. 1 against SMU to a very good three-set match and just came up short."

Leading NSU's doubles lineup in the third position, Castillo Gargallo and Emilija Dancetovic enter this weekend's matches at 12-2 overall and 4-1 in the SLC. Mutel and Skyba are also 4-1 in conference in the No. 1 slot.

The Cowgirls are led by SLC Player of the Year candidate Charoline Erlandsson, who comes into Friday's action at a perfect 13-0.

The strength of the Lions is their doubles teams. Putri Insani/Ximena Yanez at No. 1 and Ceci Mercier/Vicky Scholz at No. 2 have not lost in conference play.

"Southeastern's another solid team in the Southland," DuBois said. "They're very well coached. Jason Hayes has been there for many years and he does a really good job with his girls, and they're playing well so far. We have a tough weekend ahead of us."

Following this weekend, NSU hits the road for the final time this regular season with a trip to Texas for matches next Friday against Sam Houston State at 1 p.m. and next Sunday at Stephen F. Austin at 11 a.m.