NACOGDOCHES—Ela Iwaniuk and Rhea Verma remained perfect in Southland Conference play Tuesday, but the Northwestern State Lady Demons tennis team fell for the first time in league action, losing 4-3 to rival Stephen F. Austin at the Schlief Tennis Complex.

NSU (16-4 overall, 8-1 Southland) received victories from Iwaniuk, Verma and Judit Castillo Gargallo in the loss.

SFA (7-11, 3-6) broke a four-match losing streak overall and a two-match skid against the Lady Demons.

"SFA stepped up and played well (Tuesday) and flat-out beat us," head coach Patric DuBois said.

Even with the loss, the Lady Demons still have a chance to win the conference if they win out. They host Abilene Christian Friday. With a win, they keep their hopes alive for their first conference title since 2014. If Abilene Christian wins, the Wildcats capture at least a share of the Southland Conference title and the top seed in the conference tournament.

"I am very disappointed in the way we played and competed (Tuesday)," DuBois said. "We came out flat on all courts in doubles and it continued into singles on several courts."

Once again, Iwaniuk and Verma were dominant, as the pair both improved to a perfect 9-0 in conference play.

At No. 2, Verma soundly defeated Darinka Tiboldi 6-1, 6-3. It was her fourth consecutive victory and she improved to 14-4.

Iwaniuk also won in straight sets to remain perfect, as she dominated against Kaja Ljubic at No. 4, winning 6-1, 6-1. It was also her fourth consecutive victory following a loss to SMU. The junior has a team-best 15 wins, which exceeds her total from last year, and all nine of her conference triumphs this year have come in straight sets.

Castillo Gargallo also made quick work of her opponent, as she had a convincing 6-1, 6-1, victory against Kyndall Misak at No. 6. Her triumph improved her conference record to 5-2 and 13-4 overall.

SFA broke out on top first with two wins in doubles to take the point. Tiboldi and Armelle Cerdan defeated Iwaniuk and Antonia Blattner at No. 2, which was followed by Gabi Guilarte and Ljubic winning at No. 1 against Verma and Patrycja Polanska to clinch the point, which proved to be the difference.

The Lady Demons stormed back in singles, as Iwaniuk, Castillo Gargallo and Verma won in succession to give NSU the lead.

Freshman Antonia Blattner lost to Nida Kamal at No. 5, 6-3, 6-2, as she dropped her first conference match and just her second match overall this season. After losing the first set 6-2, freshman Maria Skyba forced a third set with a solid 6-3 triumph in the second at No. 1, but she dropped a tough decisive set, 6-4, to tie the match at 3.

Polanska lost a tough match 6-4, 6-4, at No. 3 to Cerdan to seal the first conference defeat of the year for NSU.

NSU played without No. 1 singles and doubles player Polina Mutel.

The Lady Demons wrap up the regular season this weekend, when they host unbeaten Abilene Christian Friday with the Southland Conference title on the line. Lone senior Polina Mutel will be honored Sunday on Senior Day when they take on Incarnate Word at the Jack Fisher Tennis Complex.
 
Stephen F. Austin 4, Northwestern State 3
Women's Tennis at Nacogdoches, Texas – (Schlief Tennis Complex)
Singles
1. Gabi Guilarte (SFA) def. Maria Skyba 6-2, 3-6, 6-4
2. Rhea Verma (NSU) def. Darinka Tiboldi 6-1, 6-3
3. Armelle Cerdan (SFA) def. Patrycja Polanska 6-4, 6-4
4. Ela Iwaniuk (NSU) def. Kaja Ljubic 6-1, 6-1
5. Nida Kamal (SFA) def. Antonia Blattner 6-3, 6-2
6. Judit Castillo Gargallo (NSU) def. Kyndall Misak 6-1, 6-1
 
Doubles
1. Gabi Guilarte/Kaja Ljubic (SFA) def. Patrycja Polanska/Rhea Verma 6-4
2. Darinka Tiboldi/Armelle Cerdan (SFA) def. Antonia Blattner/Ela Iwaniuk (NSU) 6-3
3. Kyndall Misak/Nida Kamal (SFA) vs. Emilija Dancetovic/Maria Skyba (NSU) 4-4, unfinished
 
Match Notes:
Northwestern State 16-4 overall, 8-1 Southland
Sam Houston State: 7-11 overall, 3-6 Southland
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1); Singles (4,6,2,5,1,3)
T-2:59 A-16