NATHCITOCHES – Northwestern State tennis made a statement against Lamar in the form of a 5-2 victory at the Jack Fisher Tennis Complex for its first conference triumph of the season.
Head coach Jonas Brobeck produced a doubles lineup that has not been this season to try and come out stronger on doubles and it paid off.
"We changed some things around and I love the energy we played with today," said Brobeck. "It really set the tone for the match."
Klevisar and Ishibashi remained in the top slot, while Paige Wise moved to court two and was paired with Mariella Minetti.
The Lady Demons (9-7 overall, 1-2 SLC) clinched doubles for the first time in conference play. They won 6-1 on courts 1 and 3.
Minetti and Wise only allowed the Cardinals one game before their game went unfinished, 4-1.
Sofi Garcia was paired with Dorota Szczygielska on No. 3.
NSU and Lamar worked to a stalemate to begin singles, each winning the first set in three singles matches.
Lamar (9-7, 1-1) earned the first two victories in singles to briefly capture a 2-1 lead in the match before NSU took control.
Keeping her win streak alive, Mariella Minetti topped Elana Rubio in straight sets to improve to 3-0 in league play and knot the match back up at 2-2.
Garcia, who went down 6-2 in the first set allowed little wiggle room from Margarita Roshka in the second, winning 6-2. She dominated in the third 6-0 to put the Lady Demons back in front 3-2.
Tjasar Klevisar is a dominant force in the top slot and proved it once again. The sophomore from Slovenia held on to the 7-6 win in the first set before finishing the second set 6-3 and clinch the win for the Lady Demons.
"This was a major turning point for the Lady Demons," said Wise. "We need to keep on doing what we are doing and we will grow from strength."
Wise finished off the win with a three-set triumph (6-2, 1-6, 6-3) against Ana Jolic.
The Lady Demons are back in action Sunday against McNeese at 11 a.m. at the Jack Fisher Tennis Complex.
Tennis Match Results
Lamar v. Northwestern State
March 31, 2023, at Jack Fisher Tennis Complex
SINGLES:
1. Tjasa Klevisar (NSU) def. Femke Tjon A Joe (LU) 7-6 (7-1), 6-3
2. Noelia Lorca (LU) def. Ayu Ishibashi (NSU) 6-4, 6-4
3. Paige Wise (NSU) def. Ana Jolic (LU) 6-2, 1-6, 6-3
4. Sofi Garcia (NSU) def. Margarita Roshka (LU) 2-6, 6-2, 6-0
5. Mariella Minetti (NSU) def. Elena Rubio (LU) 6-2, 6-3
6. Megan Do (LU) def. Renske Ubachs (NSU) 6-2, 6-4
Order of Finish: 6, 2, 5, 4, 1, 3
DOUBLES:
1. Tjasa Klevisar/Ayu Ishibashi (NSU) def. Femke Tjon A Joe/Margarita Roshka (LU) 6-1
2. Paige Wise/Mariella Minetti (NSU) v. Noelia Lorca/Ana Jolic (LU) 4-1 UNF
3. Dorota Szczygielska/Sofi Garcia (NSU) def. Jayci Wong/Saloni Tamang (LU) 6-1
Order of Finish: 3,1,2
