Box Score

NEW ORLEANS – The Northwestern State tennis team found itself on the wrong side of a close contest, dropping a 4-3 decision at Tulane on Sunday. 

"Sometimes we compete our best and do all the right things, but on the other side you have someone who wants to win as well," said first year head coach Marcos Morelli. "They are a very competitive team, but we fought very hard." 

NSU (0-2) received singles victories from Ayu Ishibashi, Sofi Garcia, and Sara Erenda, but the loss of the doubles point proved to be the difference. 

The Lady Demons dropped in doubles at Nos. 1 and 2. At No.1, Tulane's Lahari Yelamanchili and Kristen Borland knocked off Erenda and Garcia, 7-5, while the Green Wave's Lulu Zhu and Cora Barber defeated Tjasa Klevisar and Maria Farina 6-1 at the No. 2 position to capture the decisive doubles point. 

Borland won at the No. 2 singles spot against Paige Wise in the only match that needed a third set. Wise pulled away from Borland in the first set, 6-4. 

Wise forced a tiebreaker in the second set but was not able to come out on top. Borland finished the third set 6-1 to give Tulane the win. 

"Character is shown during tough times and losses," Morelli said. "Today, Paige showed us how strong her character is and how hard she is willing to fight." 

Erenda posted straight 6-1 set wins, as she won at No. 6 against Delanie Tribby. 

Garcia and Ishibashi also posted straight-set victories, as Garcia won at No. 5 against Brooke Theis, 6-2, 6-4, while Ishibashi tied the match 3-3 with her win against Jiayun Zhu, 6-1, 7-5. 

Tulane proved to be too tough on courts No. 1 and 2 and the loss of the doubles point proved to be too tough to overcome. 

The Lady Demons will return to Natchitoches for their home opener Friday at 3 p.m. against LSU-Alexandria. 

Tulane 4, Northwestern State 3 

Women's Tennis at New Orleans 

Singles 

1. Lahari Yelamanchili (TU) def. Tjasa Klevisar (NSU) 6-0, 6-1 

2. Kristen Borland (TU) def. Paige Wise (NSU) 4-6, 7(7)-6(3), 6-1 

3. Cora Barber (TU) def. Maria Farina (NSU) 6-0, 6-0 

4. Ayu Ishibashi (NSU) def. Jiayun Zhu (TU) 6-1, 7-5 

5. Sofi Garcia (NSU) def. Brooke Theis (TU) 6-2, 6-4 

6. Sara Erenda (NSU) def. Delanie Tribby (TU) 6-1, 6-1 

Order of finish: 3, 6, 1, 5, 4, 2 

Doubles: 

1. Lahari Yelamanchili/Kristen Borland (TU) def. Sara Erenda/Sofi Garcia (NSU) 7-5 

2. Lulu Zhu/Cora Barber (TU) def. Tjasa Klevisar/Maria Farina (NSU) 6-1 

3. Honoka Umeda/Ayu Ishibashi (NSU) def. Delanie Tribby/Brooke Theis (TU) 6-1 

Order of finish: 2, 3, 1