SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Every Southland Conference match always counts, but when the league schedule has just seven matches, each contest carries an even heavier weight.

Northwestern State (8-5) enters its conference season off a 7-0 sweep against Alcorn, as they head to Texas for matches at 1 p.m. Friday against UIW and Sunday against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.

"We are excited to start conference play," said head coach Jonas Brobeck. "It is going to be a great weekend to see where we're at. I feel like we are playing our best tennis leading into conference."

Sofi Garcia, a freshman from Argentina, has had a successful first season. For the Lady Demons, she has compiled an 8-4 singles record, with an impressive 5-1 mark at the No. 2 spot.

Garcia has 4-2 doubles record with partner Paige Wise, playing primarily at the No. 2 doubles position.

After transferring from Francis Marion University, Wise has proven to be a dominant force at the No. 3 rotation in singles, earning a 5-3 record.

Tjasa Klevisar has proved to be a key part of the Lady Demons lineup in her second season at NSU.Klevisar has put up a 9-3 mark in singles, with six of those wins in the top slot.

Doubles pairing Dorota Szczygielska and Renske Ubachs have put up and impressive 10-2 record playing on all three courts but mainly on court No. 3.

In her first season at NSU, Ubachs has competed on courts No. 4, 5, and 6, grabbing a 5-3 record in singles.

The Lady Demons square off with the Cardinals (9-5) on Friday. NSU is 7-0 against UIW since the series started in 2014.

The Lady Demons have swept the Cardinals five times in the series. NSU won the last match 6-1 at home during the 2022 season.

Incarnate Word is entering the match off a sweep against Grambling.

Sisters, Brandelyn and Lauren Fulgenzi took home the ITA Texas Regional Doubles Title at TCU this past fall.

Following the match, NSU heads to Corpus Christi for an 11 a.m. Sunday match against the reigning SLC Tournament champions.