NATCHITOCHES – The last time Northwestern State's tennis team faced off against New Orleans, neither team could have foreseen what life would turn into immediately following. 

March 8, 2020 marks both NSU's last meeting against UNO and the final match it would play against another opponent in nearly a calendar year due to COVID-19. The Lady Demons earned a 6-1 victory that day against the Privateers, building their win streak to three and ultimately ending their season as the only undefeated home team in the Southland Conference. 

NSU (1-2, 0-2), in its first true road test of this season, travels to New Orleans (0-1, 0-1) to take on the Privateers at 1 p.m. Friday. NSU is hunting for its first conference win following a tough Southland-opening weekend at home against Lamar and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. 

"This week we have been focused on ourselves, and how we could use last weekend's losses as a means to improve," head coach Jonas Brobeck said. "We have also had some great practices this week. It's good to see growth in the girls as a team." 

Of late, the Lady Demons have struggled while competing as the visiting team. The 2017 season marked the last one in which they were able to compile a winning record on the road (6-5). 

Discussing the challenges he expects to face traveling this season, Brobeck explained the importance of the team focusing on factors within their control and disregarding all else.  

"It's all really about controlling the things we can control," Brobeck said. "Surfaces and environment may be different [when we travel] … but we are going to practice there when we arrive this weekend and put ourselves in a good situation to come out on the right side." 

The No. 3 court in doubles for NSU thus far has proven to be the most consistent product for the Lady Demons this season. Comprised of senior Emilija Dancetovic and freshman Dorota Szczygielska, the pair has started the season 2-0 against LSU-Alexandria and Lamar. Dancetovic/Szczygielska held a 5-4 lead in last weekend's match against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi before going unfinished. The duo aims to extend their dominance against UNO on Friday.     

The Lady Demons are looking to extend a four-match win streak over New Orleans, which includes a 4-1 quarterfinal victory in the 2018 Southland Conference Tournament.  A win tomorrow for NSU would also add to an already favorable 16-11 all-time record over the Privateers.