NATCHITOCHES– The Northwestern State Lady Demons continued their strong play in Southland Conference action, earning a 5-2 victory over UTRGV on Friday afternoon at the Jack Fisher Lady Demon Complex. 

Northwestern State (3-5, 3-0) has hit its stride to league play, winning its third consecutive match during Southland play 

"It was a very tough match," says head coach Marcos Morelli. "Both teams played very well. I'm glad we took the doubles point early giving us the momentum to carry over into singles. I'm proud of the girls to stay consistent in singles."

It did not take long for Northwestern State to make its mark. The Lady Demons came out strong in doubles play, securing the doubles point with dominant performances.  

The duo of Pika Doberlet and Tjasa Klevisar cruised past Rhea Makesar and Mariia Bakhtina 6-1 at No. 1 doubles.  

At No. 2, Maria Farina and Sofi Garcia delivered another decisive win, taking down Yaiza Vazquez and Kristal Dule 6-2 to clinch the point.  

The No. 3 doubles match between Honoka Umeda and Zoi Spyrou and UTRGV's Madeleine Joffe and Hitakamya Narwal remained unfinished with NSU leading 4-3. 

The Lady Demons carried their momentum into singles action, winning four of six matches. 

At No. 1 singles, Zoi Spyrou put together a strong performance, defeating Yaiza Vazquez 6-4, 6-3. 

UTRGV Kristal Dule scored the first point the Vaqueros', defeating Tjasa Klevisar 7-5, 6-2 at No. 3 singles, to cut the Demons lead to 2-1. 

Ayu Ishibashi earned the point right back, as she followed with a straight-sets victory over Hitakamya Narwal at No. 5 singles, winning 6-2, 7-5. 

Sofi Garcia secured the victory for Northwestern State, battling past Mariia Bakhtina in a tight contest, 7-5, 7-6(7-4), to push the Lady Demons advantage to 4-1. 

Garcia trailed 4-2 in the first set, but came back to win five of the final six games to take the first set before winning a thrilling second set in a tiebreaker. 

The final point for UTRGV (4-4, 2-1) came at the No. 2 singles, as Rhea Makesar defeated Honoka Umeda at No. 2 singles after Umeda was forced to retire with her leading in the third set. 

The match of the day came at No. 4 singles, where Maria Farina and Madeleine Joffe engaged in an epic three-set showdown. After taking the first set in a tiebreaker, Farina dropped the second but outlasted Joffe in a thrilling third-set super tiebreaker, winning 7-6 (7-5), 2-6, 17-15 to clinch the overall match for Northwestern State. 

In the first set, she fell behind 4-1 before fighting back to win the first and bounced back from a second set defeat to win the epic super tiebreaker. 

"We went down in sets with things we can control," says Morelli. "That is the consistency we are talking about, but every tennis player goes through it, the thing is to minimize those mistakes. I'm glad the girls both reset and fought back to win those sets."

Northwestern State turns its sights to Monday, as it hosts perennial Southland power Texas A&M-Corpus Christi at 11 a.m. at the Jack Fisher Lady Demon Complex. 

Northwestern State 5, UTRGV 2 
Women's Tennis at Natchitoches, Louisiana - Jack Fisher Lady Demon Complex 
Singles 
1. Zoi Spyrou (NSU) def. Yaiza Vazquez (UTRGV) 6-4, 6-3 
2. Rhea Makesar (UTRGV) def. Honoka Umeda (NSU) 6-3, 4-6, 3-1, retired 
3. Kristal Dule (UTRGV) def. Tjasa Klevisar (NSU) 7-5, 6-2 
4. Maria Farina (NSU) def. Madeleine Joffe (UTRGV) 7-6 (7-5), 2-6, 17-15 
5. Ayu Ishibashi (NSU) def. Hitakamya Narwal (UTRGV) 6-2, 7-5 
6. Sofi Garcia (NSU) def. Mariia Bakhtina (UTRGV) 7-5, 7-6 (7-4) 

Doubles 
1. Pika Doberlet/Tjasa Klevisar (NSU) def. Rhea Makesar/Mariia Bakhtina (UTRGV) 6-1 
2. Maria Farina/Sofi Garcia (NSU) def. Yaiza Vazquez/Kristal Dule (UTRGV) 6-2 
3. Honoka Umeda/Zoi Spyrou (NSU) vs. Madeleine Joffe/Hitakamya Narwal (UTRGV) 4-3, uf 

Match Notes 
Northwestern State 3-5, 3-0
UTRGV 4-4, 2-1 
Orders of Finish: Doubles: 1, 2, uf    Singles: 1, 3, 5, 6, retired, 4