CONWAY, Ark.—Both doubles for Northwestern State reached the second round, highlighting the first day of competition at the UCA Invitational on the campus of Central Arkansas on Friday at the Conway Tennis Center.

The doubles pairings of Paige Wise and Sofi Garcia as well as Gig Kanaphuet and Renske Ubachs each advanced to the second round with victories over doubles opponents from Oral Roberts.

"We saw some improvements in doubles today in areas we have been working on," NSU head women's tennis coach Jonas Brobeck said. "However, we have to continue to improve on playing our "identity" from start to finish in singles. Great opportunity to get better again tomorrow."

Wise and Garcia won a tight match against Sasha Lebedeva and Reagan Miley 7-5, while Kanaphuet and Ubachs earned a convincing 6-2 victory over Chara Grammatikaki and Luna Morini.

Ubachs, a freshman from Barendrecht, The Netherlands, rolled her way to a singles win in straight sets over Southeastern Louisiana's Nadia Hitzman 6-2, 6-2, before dropping a tight match to Louisiana Tech's Alexia Romero in the second round.

After dropping her first match in singles, Kanaphuet rebounded in resounding fashion, winning in straight sets against SLU's  Polina Paunova, 6-2, 6-3.

NSU returns to action Saturday for the second and final day of the UCA Invitational. Following the tournament, the Lady Demons head to Baton Rouge for the ITA Regional, beginning Oct. 13.
 
First Round Doubles
Paige Wise/Sofi Garcia (NSU) def. Sasha Lebedeva/Reagan Miley (ORU) 7-5
Gig Kanaphuet/Renske Ubachs (NSU) def. Chara Grammatikaki/Luna Morini (ORU) 6-2
 
First Round Singles
Konomi Miyakawa (UCA) def. Sofi Garcia (NSU) 6-3, 0-6, 10-8
Tiffani Nash (LTU) def. Gig Kanaphuet (NSU) 6-3, 6-1
Renske Ubachs (NSU) def. Nadia Hitzman (SLU) 6-2, 6-2
Valentina Vazquez (LTU) def. Dorota Szczygielska 6-1, 6-4
 
Second Round Singles
Leonie Schuknecht (LTU) def. Sofi Garcia (NSU) 6-3, 6-1
Gig Kanaphuet (NSU) def. Polina Paunova (SLU) 6-2, 6-3
Alexia Romero (LTU) def. Renske Ubachs (NSU) 6-3, 7-6(3)
Zere Iskakova (ORU) def. Dorota Szczygielska (NSU) 6-4, 6-4