BEAUMONT, Texas – The Northwestern State tennis team saw its season come to an end in the Southland Conference Tournament semifinals, falling 4-0 to No. 3 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.

The No. 2 Demons entered the match following a 4-1 win over seventh-seeded UTRGV, setting up a rematch with an Islanders squad NSU defeated during the regular season.

This time, however, the result did not fall in their favor.

"Corpus competed well today," head coach Marcos Morelli said. "Congratulations to them on a good win."

Texas A&M-Corpus Christi carried momentum into the match after a 4-1 first-round victory over Southeastern and never let up.

Northwestern State found early success in doubles, as the second team all-conference duo of Martina Acebedo Bonocore and Athina Grigoriadou dominated their match with a 6-0 win at the No. 3 position.

Despite that strong start, the Islanders responded on the other courts.

The pairings of Yana Mykytyk and Kseniya Ramanouskaya, along with Adri Jimenez Casado and Viktoriia Sedova, each secured 6-2 victories to claim the doubles point and a 1-0 lead.

"Corpus competed well, they imposed their game in doubles, and used that momentum well into singles," Morelli said.

With momentum on their side, the Islanders took control in singles play.

Ramanouskaya, a First Team All-SLC selection at No. 3 singles, defeated Maria Farina in straight sets, 6-1, 6-2, extending the lead.

Shortly after, Mykytyn, also a First Team All-SLC honoree, earned a 6-2, 6-2 win over Grigoriadou to push the Islanders within one point of clinching the match.

The clincher came from Fuenzalida, who defeated Acebedo 6-2, 6-1, to secure the victory and send Texas A&M-Corpus Christi to the tournament championship.

With the match decided, the remaining contests were left unfinished.

At the time play was halted, Honoka Umeda led her No. 1 singles match 6-4, 4-2. Sofi Garcia was ahead 5-3 in the second set after dropping the first 6-2, while Lolita Hukasian had taken the opening set 6-3 before splitting sets.

Northwestern State concludes its season in the semifinals of the Southland Conference Tournament.

Despite the result, the Demons showed resilience throughout the year and will look ahead with a strong foundation under head coach Morelli.

"Very proud of this group in a lot of ways," Morelli said. "The way they handled adversity and their resilience this season is something to point out."

"The expectation is to represent Northwestern State with excellence, on and off the court," Morelli added. "Each one of them has improved in their own way."

#3 AMCC 4, #2 NSU 0
Southland Conference Tournament - Second Round
Lamar Cardinals - Beaumont Municipal Tennis Center

Singles
Honoka Umeda (NSU) vs. Leticia Tarocco (AMCC) 6-4, 4-2 uf
Yana Mykytyn (AMCC) def. Athina Grigoriadou (NSU) 6-2, 6-2
Kseniya Ramanouskaya (AMCC) def. Maria Farina (NSU) 6-1, 6-2
Josefa Fuenzalida (AMCC) def. Martina Acebedo Bonocore (NSU) 6-2, 6-1
Sofi Garcia (NSU) vs. Adri Jimenez Casado (AMCC) 2-6, 5-3 uf
Lolita Hukasian (NSU) vs. Juliette Jalai (AMCC) 6-3, 0-6, 0-1 wr

Doubles
Yana Mykytyn/Kseniya Ramanouskaya (AMCC) def. Sofi Garcia/Honoka Umeda (NSU) 6-2
Adri Jimenez Casado/Viktoriia Sedova (AMCC) def. Pika Doberlet/Lija Mumlek (NSU) 6-2
Martina Acebedo Bonocore/Athina Grigoriadou (NSU) def. Josefa Fuenzalida/Emma Bousquet (AMCC) 6-0

Orders finished: doubles (3, 2, 1); singles (3, 2, 4, uf, uf, uf)