DALLAS – Against some of the top programs in the nation, the Northwestern State tennis program logged a .500 winning percentage in singles and doubles on the first day of the SMU Red and Blue Challenge.

Sophomore Mariella Minetti and freshman Rozalie Dohnalova captured singles victories.

Minetti pushed past UTSA's Beyebach 6-4, 6-1, while Dohnalova rebounded for a 4-6, 6-4, 10-8 win against Kansas State's Allayarova.

Freshmen Tjasa Klevisar and Ayu Ishibashi dropped opening-day matches to UTSA's Weir (6-7, 6-3, 10-6) and SMU's Doyle (6-3, 6-2), respectively.

For Klevisar, it's her first singles lost this fall season after winning her first six matches.

In doubles, two NSU pairs went 1-1 on the first day.

Ishibashi/Klevisar topped Texas Tech's Markinov/Peet (6-2) after falling UTSA's Beyebach/Omonoarave (6-3).

The tandem of Dohnalova/Minetti eased passed Wisconsin's Larrain/Semenovski (7-6, (3) after dropping to Kansas' Lagarde/Velazquez (6-4).

The event will be played through Saturday and Sunday.