Box Score NATCHITOCHES — Success in three-set matches set was the deciding factor in the Northwestern State tennis team completing a successful weekend in front of numerous Lady Demon alumni.
 
Three Lady Demons claimed singles victories in matches that went the distance to clinch a 5-2 win against Steven. F. Austin on Sunday at the Jack Fisher Tennis Complex.
 
"It started with doubles and a super-close doubles point," head coach Jonas Brobeck said. "We got on top and won doubles to get the first point and led into singles."
 
In what was a prelude to several tight singles matches, NSU's tandem of Mariella Minetti and Tjasa Klevisar rallied for a 7-5 win at the No. 1 doubles position to clinch the point and put the Lady Demons up early.
 
Patrycja Polanska and Ayu Ishibashi gave NSU (4-2) an early lead in doubles play with a 6-2 victory.
 
NSU seemed to carry the momentum from doubles into the early part of singles competition as five Lady Demons won the opening set of their individual matchups.
 
Ayu Ishibashi – a 6-3, 6-2 winner against Lucy Furness at No. 4 – and Viktorie Wojcikova – who took down Elena Bleicher 6-4, 6-1 at No. 5 – built on strong first sets to collect straight-set wins and put NSU in position to grab its third straight victory
 
SFA's Anastassia Kouchnareva kept the Ladyjacks (3-3) alive by edging Mariella Minetti at No. 3 singles, 6-3, 2-6, 6-2, before the Lady Demons showcased their grit.
 
Klevisar, playing at No. 2 singles, rallied past Paula Cerda in the final set for a match-clinching 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 victory that ended just moments before Gig Kanaphuet finished a roller-coaster No. 6 singles match by holding off SFA's Ai Noa Fabre, 6-2, 0-6, 6-4.
 
Kanaphuet's victory had a personal bent to it.
 
"Personally, last year I lost (against SFA), and this year, I won, so I am really proud of myself," she said. "In the second set, my quality (of play) went down a lot, and I had no idea what to do, but I kept fighting. In the third set, I kept fighting and stayed on court and did what I was supposed to do."
 
Klevisar's and Kanaphuet's victories helped NSU improve to 3-0 on its current homestand and followed the same pattern.
 
"Tjasa did a really good job on court No. 2 winning the first set," Brobeck said. "The other girl kind of stepped up and then Tjasa started dictating and playing on her terms and did a great job finishing that girl out. She's a really good player so credit to her.
 
"I thought Gig did a really good job at court No. 6 not playing yesterday, coming in today. She listened super well to (assistant) coach Marcos (Morelli) and figured out what she needed to do and came out on top. I'm really proud of her."
 
The Lady Demons continue their five-match homestand Friday at 1 p.m. against UTSA.
 
Northwestern State 5, Stephen F. Austin 2
Doubles
Mariella Minetti/Tjasa Klevisar (NSU) def. Zala Ule/Ai Noa Fabre (SFA) 7-5
Nyah Kauders/Paula Cerda (SFA) def. Viktorie Wojcikova/Rozi Dohnalova (NSU) 6-2
Patrycja Polanska/Ayu Ishibashi (NSU) def. Elena Bleicher/Anastassia Kouchnareva (SFA) 6-2
Order of finish: 3,2,1
Singles
Nyah Kauders (SFA) def. Rozi Dohnalova (NSU) 6-1, 6-0
Tjasa Klevisar (NSU) def. Paula Cerda (SFA) 6-3, 4-6, 6-3
Anastassia Kouchnareva (SFA) def. Mariella Minetti (NSU) 6-3, 2-6, 6-2
Ayu Ishibashi (NSU) def. Lucy Furness (SFA) 6-3, 6-2
Viktorie Wojcikova (NSU) def. Elena Bleicher (SFA) 6-4, 6-1
Gig Kanaphuet (NSU) def. Ai Noa Fabre (SFA) 6-2, 0-6, 6-4
Order of finish: 1,4,5,3,2,6