SAN ANTONIO – The Northwestern State tennis team found itself on the wrong side of a close contest, dropping a 4-3 decision at UTSA on Saturday. 

"It was a tough loss and not the result we wanted today," third-year head coach Jonas Brobeck said. "We have to set the tone from the start in doubles tomorrow." 

NSU (5-2) received singles victories from Sofi Garcia, Gig Kanaphuet and Renske Ubachs, but UTSA's victory in doubles proved to be the difference. 

The Lady Demons dropped in doubles at Nos. 1 and 3. At No. 1, Aleksandra Zlatarova and Magda Tuells knocked off Tjasa Klevisar and Ayu Ishibashi, 6-2, while Alexandra Weir and Adeliya Mukhutdinova defeated Dorota Szczygielska and Renske Ubachs 6-3 at doubles position No. 3. 

NSU's triumph came at No. 2 with doubles pair Mariella Minetti and Sofi Garcia against Stanislava Bobrovnikova and Eva Beyebach in Minetti's first match of the season. 

Zlatarova won at the No. 1 singles spot against Ayu Ishibashi in the only match that needed a third set. 

Ishibashi dropped the first set 6-3 to Zlatarova, before winning in the second set 7-5. Ishibashi fell in the third set 6-1. 

Garcia was in a tight battle at No. 3 with Mukhutdinova, but Garcia pulled through, winning 6-4 in the first before winning in a tiebreaker in the second set, 7-6. 

Kanaphuet and Ubachs also posted straight sets victories, as Kanaphuet won at No. 6 against Beyebach, 6-4, 6-3, while Ubachs triumphed against Bobrovnikova, 6-1, 6-4, at the No. 4 position. 

UTSA (8-4) proved too tough on courts No. 2 and 5 and the loss of the doubles point proved too tough to overcome. 

"Our energy level and competitive mindset needs to be there from the first point! New opportunity to do things better tomorrow against Texas State," Brobeck said. 

NSU is going into the match against Texas State (2-5) with a 22-13 record, the last meeting in 2022 resulted in a 5-1 Lady Demon win at home. 

The Lady Demons return home March 14 at 2 p.m. against NJIT. 

Tennis Match Results 

Northwestern State vs. UTSA 

February 25, 2023, San Antonio, Texas 

UTSA 4, Northwestern State 3 

SINGLES: 

1. Aleksandra Zlatarova (UTSA) def. Ayu Ishibashi (NSU) 6-3, 5-7, 6-1 

2. Alexandra Weir (UTSA) def. Tjasa Klevisar (NSU) 6-1, 6-2 

3. Sofi Garcia (NSU) def. Adeliya Mukhutdinova (UTSA) 6-4, 7-6 

4. Magda Tuells (UTSA) def. Dorota Szczygielska (NSU) 6-4, 6-3 

5. Renske Ubachs (NSU) def. Stanislava Bobrovnikova 6-1, 6-4 

6. Gig Kanaphuet (NSU) def. Eva Beyebach (UTSA) 6-4, 6-3 

DOUBLES: 

1. Aleksandra Zlatarova/Magda Tuells (UTSA) def. Tjasa Klevisar/Ayu Ishibashi (NSU) 6-2 

2. Mariella Minetti/Sofi Garcia (NSU) def. Stanislaava Bobrovnikova/Eva Beyebach (UTSA) 6-2 

3. Alexandra Weir/Adeliya Mukhutdinova (UTSA) def. Dorota Szczygielska/Renske Ubachs (NSU) 6-3