THIBODAUX, La. – The Nicholls State University women's tennis team won its second and third straight matches Saturday, defeating the University of New Orleans 5-2 in the morning before coming back to Houma for 4-0 shutout against Xavier (La.).

After starting the season 0-2, the Colonels have reeled off three consecutive wins, defeating Southern Miss before Saturday's action.

The duo of Parija Maloo/Natalia Cardiff set the tone in the doubles matches, taking both No. 1 decisions as Nicholls won five of six. Maloo and Cardiff improved to 5-0 on the year with an 8-4 win against UNO before taking the latter match against the Gold Nuggets 8-5.

Marie Aubert/Isla Brock won 8-4 in both of their N0.2 matches while Eva Castiglioni/Emma Pitre completed the sweep against Xavier with an 8-4 victory.

In singles play against UNO, Maloo and Cardiff played No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, with both earning points. Maloo took down Marta Sans 6-1, 6-1 and Cardiff handed Kristina Martic a 6-4, 7-6 loss. Aubert and Rachel Howe lost in the middle matches, but Brock and Castiglioni secured the victory for Nicholls with 6-1, 6-1 wins at the bottom of the lineup.

Against Xavier, only three single matches were finished as Nicholls took the first three to earn a 4-0 victory. Pitre started things off with shutout against Nicole DeLoach at No. 6, followed by Aubert with a 6-2, 6-3 win at No. 2 against Brion Flowers. Castiglioni went on to clinch the match with a 6-2, 6-4 victory at No. 6 versus Amber Brown.

The Colonels will have two weeks off before returning for their first conference match against Central Arkansas on Feb. 16.

Nicholls 5, New Orleans 2
Singles competition
1. Parija Maloo (NICH) def. Marta Sans (UNO) 6-1, 6-1
2. Natalia Cardiff (NICH) def. Kristina Martic (UNO) 6-4, 7-6
3. Soledad Arroyo (UNO) def. Marie Aubert (NICH) 7-6, 4-6, 10-8
4. Fanny Benincasa (UNO) def. Rachel Howie (NICH) 6-1, 6-1
5. Isla Brock (NICH) def. Paula Sanchez (UNO) 6-1, 6-1
6. Eva Castiglioni (NICH) def. Victoria Svensson (UNO) 6-1, 6-1

Doubles competition
1. Parija Maloo/Natalia Cardiff (NICH) def. Kristina Martic/Soledad Arroyo (UNO) 8-4
2. Marie Aubert/Isla Brock (NICH) def. Marta Sans/Fanny Benincasa (UNO) 8-4
3. Victoria Svensson/Paula Sanchez (UNO) def. Eva Castiglioni/Emma Pitre (NICH) 8-6

Match Notes:
Nicholls 2-2
New Orleans 0-1


Nicholls 4, Xavier (La.) 0
Singles competition
1. Natalia Cardiff (NICH) vs. Kourtney Howell (XULA) 6-7 (4-7), 4-3, unfinished
2. Marie Aubert (NICH) def. Brion Flowers (XULA) 6-2, 6-3
3. Rachel Howie (NICH) vs. Amanda Materre (XULA) 6-3, 1-6, 0-5, unfinished
4. Isla Brock (NICH) vs. Simone-Alyce Ewell (XULA) 6-2, 2-6, 1-4, unfinished
5. Eva Castiglioni (NICH) def. Amber Brown (XULA) 6-2, 6-4
6. Emma Pitre (NICH) def. Nicole DeLoach (XULA) 6-0, 6-0

Doubles competition
1. Parija Maloo/Natalia Cardiff (NICH) def. Kourtney Howell/Brion Flowers (XULA) 8-5
2. Marie Aubert/Isla Brock (NICH) def. Amanda Materre/Simone-Alyce Ewell (XULA) 8-4
3. Eva Castiglioni/Emma Pitre (NICH) def. Amber Brown/Nicole DeLoach (XULA) 8-4

Match Notes:
Xavier (La.) 1-1
Nicholls 3-2
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (6,2,5)