NATCHITOCHES – A two-hour rain delay didn't stop the Northwestern State tennis team from winning its home opener against Xavier (La.) 7-0 Saturday at the Jack Fisher Tennis Complex.
The Lady Demons (1-1) started strong, and securing the doubles point quickly and finishing off with a sweep in singles.
"Xavier (0-1) is always a really good team," head coach Jonas Brobeck said. "We knew it was going to be tough but we're really happy we won all three doubles and all six singles."
After an hour rain delay, the Lady Demons were getting ready to take the court and start the doubles, but the weather had another idea and pushed back the match for another hour. The doubles pairing of junior Dorota Szczygielska and freshman Renske Ubachs finished 6-0 in just under 20 minutes.
"It was a tough situation to be in," Ubachs expresses about the weather conditions. "We always have to be ready, and when we're on the court we are locked in."
With doubles clinched, the Lady Demons refused to take their foot off the gas and blew right past the Gold Nuggets. No singles game would go beyond two sets.
"The girls didn't even flinch," said Brobeck. "I'm happy with them, how we handled adversity."
Paige Wise, a sophomore from Ballito, South Africa, discusses how well her teammates competed in their first home match of the season.
"Everyone went out there and I think they competed well," wise said, "Everyone adapted to the adversity and came out firing."
Ayu Ishibashi marked the most difficult point of the day for the Lady Demons. Ishibashi emerged with a 7-5 victory in the first before going into the second set with a new vision and controlled the set with a 6-1 triumph.
"Ayu was a little too worried about what the other girl was doing in the first set," Brobeck said. "Then she kind of settled down and played within herself and on her terms."
The Lady Demons continue competition with a trip to Hattiesburg for two matches, against Jackson State and Southern Miss.
Tennis Match Results
Northwestern State vs. Xavier La.
January 28, 2023, at Natchitoches, LA
(Jack Fisher Tennis Complex)
Northwestern State 7, Xavier 0
Singles
1. Ayu Ishibashi (NSU) def. Kareemah Muhammad 7-5, 6-1
2. Tjasa Klevisar (NSU) def. Mbali Langa 6-2, 6-3
3. Paige Wise (NSU) def. McKenna Wheatley 6-1, 6-3
4. Sofi Garcia (NSU) def. Juliette Finch 6-0, 6-2
5. Dorota Szczygielska (NSU) def. Valentina Largacha 6-4, 6-4
6. Renske Ubachs (NSU) def. Tianna Dixon 6-4, 6-2
Doubles
1. Tjasa Klevisar/Ayu Ishibashi (NSU) def. Kareemah Muhammad/ Valaine Clarke 6-2
2. Paige Wise/Sofi Garcia (NSU) def. McKenna Wheatley/Mbali Langa 6-3
3. Dorota Szczygielska/Renske Ubachs (NSU) def. Valentina Largacha/Tianna Dixon 6-0
