RUSTON, La.  – The Nicholls State University women's tennis team closed out the weekend with a win against Louisiana Tech on Sunday as the Colonels defeated the Lady Techsters 4-3 at the LA Tech Tennis Complex.

The Colonels were able to earn the doubles' point, which turned out to be the deciding factor of the match. Natalia Cardiff/Emma Pitre took the first matchup for Nicholls, defeating Alena Erofeyeva/Sophie Heldoorn 8-6 in the No. 3 pairing. Louisiana Tech (1-3) evened doubles play with an 8-6 at No. 1, but Marie Aubert/Isla Brock outlasted Melanie Urvoy/Taly Merker in the No. 2 match with an 8-5 victory.

“Emma, Rachel and Natalia did a phenomenal job in doubles as it was very crucial for us to get that point,” said Nicholls tennis head coach Meenakshi Sundaram. “All three of them showed some real aggression and leadership qualities which is so important to win in doubles.”

In singles, LA Tech quickly took the lead after strong showings in the No. 3 and No. 4 matches as Howie and Pitre fell 6-0, 6-1, respectively.

Brock pulled the score even at 2-2 with a 6-2, 6-3 victory at No. 5 against Alena Erofeyeva, and Aubert recovered from dropping the first set at No. 2 to earn a 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 win. But in the top match, Vivian ten Dolle got the best of Cardiff, escaping with a 7-5, 7-6 (7-2) victory to even the match at 3-3.

In the deciding No. 6 match, Eva Castiglioni rallied back in the first set to win 7-5 before going on to seal the victory for Nicholls with a 6-4 win in the second set.

“All year long we have talked about the bottom of the line up improving and it happened today,” Sundaram said. “After a long five-hour drive at 5 a.m., to get out of the van and play with the kind of heart they did shows the character of this team and they are just getting started.”

“Marie played tough as always and showed why she had a great record last year and is getting even better this year. Brock is getting the whole concept of college tennis down and after an unimpressive fall has come into her own and now knows how to win. Today, however, belonged to Eva who came from being down in the first set to win it and then closed out a tough second set. Overall, it was a great win for these young ladies and sure makes the drive home easy.”

The Colonels will play their second home match of the season Tuesday, Feb. 26 with a non-conference matchup against Alcorn St. First serve is scheduled for 2 p.m.
 
Nicholls 4, Louisiana Tech 3
Singles competition
1. Vivian ten Dolle (LATECH) def. Natalia Cardiff (NICH) 7-5, 7-6 (7-2)
2. Marie Aubert (NICH) def. Melanie Urvoy (LATECH) 4-6, 6-3, 6-2
3. Taly Merker (LATECH) def. Rachel Howie (NICH) 6-0, 6-1
4. Manoela Chiacchio (LATECH) def. Emma Pitre (NICH) 6-0, 6-1
5. Isla Brock (NICH) def. Alena Erofeyeva (LATECH) 6-2, 6-3
6. Eva Castiglioni (NICH) def. Sophie Heldoorn (LATECH) 7-5, 6-4

Doubles competition
1. Vivian ten Dolle/Manoela Chiacchio (LATECH) def. Eva Castiglioni/Rachel Howie (NICH) 8-6
2. Marie Aubert/Isla Brock (NICH) def. Melanie Urvoy/Taly Merker (LATECH) 8-5
3. Natalia Cardiff/Emma Pitre (NICH) def. Alena Erofeyeva/Sophie Heldoorn (LATECH) 8-6

Match Notes:
Nicholls 6-3
Louisiana Tech 1-3
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (3,4,5,2,1,6)
T-5