NATCHITOCHES—For the fourth time in as many Southland Conference home matches for the Northwestern State tennis team, the league-leading Lady Demons again recorded a 4-3 win, holding off rival McNeese Friday at the Jack Fisher Tennis Complex.

For the second time in those four dramatic contests, sophomore Patrycja Polanska provided the clinching point, as she finished off a 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 win against McNeese's Sofia SanJose Moreno to put NSU in front 4-1.

It was the eighth win in the last nine matches overall for the Lady Demons (14-3 overall, 6-0 Southland Conference).

"I am proud of the way the girls fought today," head coach Patric DuBois said. "We are finding ways to win as a team. We need to do better in a few areas. We have a day to recover and then we'll need to come out at a high level for a tough match against Southeastern Louisiana on Sunday."

The Lady Demons end the weekend Sunday with a visit from Southeastern Louisiana at 11 a.m. before heading back on the road next weekend.

Polanska became the fourth Lady Demon to reach double digits in wins, 10-4 overall, 4-2 in conference action.

"We all fight to the end," Polanska said. "We know every point is important, and when it's close, we're not scared to play. We played aggressive and we played our game and we were able to close out the match."

The NSU doubles teams got back to their winning ways, claiming the doubles point by prevailing at Nos. 1 and 2.

At No. 2, Polanska and sophomore Rhea Verma made quick work of Marija Mastilovic and Stella Carra 6-1 to put NSU in front before McNeese won at No. 3 to leave the doubles point to be decided at No. 1.

Picking up their first decision of the season after an unfinished contest at North Texas, senior Polina Mutel and junior Ela Iwaniuk posted a 6-4 clincher over Charoline Erlandsson and Sofia SanJose Moreno.

With Mutel/Iwaniuk in front 5-4, there was a half an hour lightning delay. When play resumed, the Lady Demons were able to put away the Cowgirls to earn the doubles point.

The Lady Demons took five of the six first sets of the singles matches before three went to a third set.

McNeese tied the overall score at 1 with a win at No. 2 by Erlandsson, who has not lost a match this season.

But NSU quickly moved back on top when Verma took care of Mastilovic 6-3, 6-3 at No. 3. Verma improved to 11-4 overall and a perfect 6-0 in conference play.

Iwaniuk continued her strong play with a convincing 6-2, 6-3 victory against Carlotta Romito at No. 5 to make it 3-1. She tied junior Judit Castillo Gargallo for most wins on the team with 12.

That set the stage for Polanska.

Three matches went to a third set, with the Lady Demons needing to win one of them. Polanska won the first game in the final set, and was able to hold off Moreno every time she tried to tie up the match.

After the overall outcome was settled, Mutel and Castillo Gargallo dropped close, back-and-forth matches as McNeese closed the score top 4-3.

It was the third loss in the last four for McNeese (7-7, 2-3), which plays at Central Arkansas Sunday before ending the season with four consecutive matches at home.
 

Northwestern State 4, McNeese 3 
Women's Tennis at Natchitoches, La. – Jack Fisher Tennis Complex 
Singles 
1. Giovanna Fioretti (MCN) def. Polina Mutel 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 
2. Charoline Erlandsson (MCN) def. Maria Skyba 6-1, 6-1 
3. Rhea Verma (NSU) def. Marija Mastilovic 6-3, 6-3 
4. Patrycja Polanska (NSU) def. Sofia SanJose Moreno 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 
5. Ela Iwaniuk (NSU) def. Carlotta Romito 6-2, 6-3 
6. Dalia Ahmed (MCN) def. Judit Castillo Gargallo 4-6, 6-1, 6-3 
 

Doubles
1. Polina Mutel/Ela Iwaniuk (NSU) def. Charoline Erlandsson/Sofia SanJose Moreno 6-4
2. Rhea Verma/Patrycja Polanska (NSU) def. Marija Mastilovic/Stella Carra 6-1 
3. Giovanna Fioretti/Dalia Ahmed (MCN) def. Judit Castillo/Emilija Dancetovic 6-2 
 

Match Notes: 
Northwestern State 14-3 overall, 6-0 Southland 
McNeese: 7-7 overall, 2-3 Southland 
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (2,3,5,4,1,6)
T-4:00 A-100