HAMMOND - Northwestern State began their Conference Masters run Friday picking up key wins in Southeastern.

Sophomore Honoka Umeda got the best of her opponent, McNeese's Salome Fluri in the first round of the singles tournament 6-1, 1-6, 6-1, to advance in the tournament.

"Honoka's hard work is the key to winning," head coach Marcos Morelli states. "She's been listening to the coaches, and practicing really well."

Umeda will play Stephen F. Austin's Felicia Back in the semifinals.

Umeda teamed up with junior Zoi Spyrou in the doubles bracket. The Lady Demons lost in the quarterfinals against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi's Ksenia Ramanouskaya and Yana Mykytyn, 3-6, 6-3, 10-6.

"We didn't play to win," coach Morelli says. "In the first round, we did the right things to get the set, but we expected the other team to give the match away after. That doesn't happen, you have to earn that.

The semifinals continue Saturday at 3 p.m. with the continuation of the singles bracket for Umeda.
FRIDAY RESULTS
Doubles Quarterfinals
No. 4 Ksenia Ramanouskaya/Yana Mykytyn (AMCC) def. Honoko Umeda/Zoi Spyrou (NSU), 3-6, 6-3, 10-6
Singles First Round
Honoka Umeda (NSU) def. Salome Fluri (McN), 6-1, 1-6, 6-1