NATCHITOCHES – The first day is in the books in Natchitoches, as Northwestern State performed well.
 
The NSU tennis team began its day as the Southland Conference Fall Masters commenced at the Lady Demons Tennis Complex, featuring both singles and doubles play.
 
Juniors Maria Farina and Honoka Umeda began the day in doubles, going up against Nicholls' Aada Inna and Paulina Villegas in a 3-set battle.
 
Farina and Umeda found themselves down in the match 1-0 after a 6-4 set win by Inna and Villegas, before mounting a 2-set comeback, winning the second set 6-3, and finishing off the Colonels in the final set in a 12-10 thriller.
 
Farina and Umeda set up a showdown with SFA's reigning SLC champions, Jemma Cave and Ksenia Mamontova, Thursday at 11 a.m.
 
In singles action, senior Zoi Spyrou took the court to take on Nicholls' Noemie Piquet.
 
Spyrou started off hot, making quick work of Piquet in the first set 6-0 to take a 1-0 set lead.
 
Piquet set the tone right away in the second, piling on pressure and racing to a 3-1 lead.
 
With the pressure mounting on Spyrou, she took four out of five sets, leading the set 5-4, with momentum back on the senior's side.
 
Piquet went on to take the next three sets, grabbing the second match 7-5.
 
In the third set, Spyrou found herself up 2-1 before Piquet tied it up at 2-2.
 
Spyrou racked up two quick points to extend her lead over Piquet 4-2, setting herself up in a great position to take the match.
 
Piquet responds with two quick points to Spyrou's one, tightening the lead Spyrou has 5-4.
 
Spyrou finishes off Piquet 6-4, advancing her to the first round of the Fall Masters, going up against McNeese's Salome Fluri.
 
Second year head coach Marcos Morelli was thrilled with how the team bounced back after facing pressure from the opposition.
 
"I think that is why they won," says Morelli. "They played to win; they wanted to win. I do think they need to commit to the process more. At this level, if you're not doing the right things, you will find yourself down and losing very quickly."
 
The Fall Masters continues Thursday, as the men kick things off at 9 a.m., with the Lady Demons pairing beginning at 11 a.m., with Spyrou following at 3 p.m.
 
"We want to play against the best," says Morelli. "We are excited for the opportunity. We're going to play to win. Commit to the process, and let's see what happens."
 
Northwestern State Tennis
Natchitoches, LA - Southland Conference Fall Masters
 
Day One Results
Singles
Zoi Spyrou (NSU) vs. Noemie Piquet (NICH) 6-0, 5-7, 6-4
 
Doubles
Maria Farina/Honoka Umeda (NSU) def. Aada Inna/Paulina Villegas (NICH) 4-6, 6-3, 12-10