THIBODAUX, La.  – The Nicholls women's tennis team hosted Sam Houston State for a conference match Friday at the Colonel Tennis Complex and the Bearkats came away with a 5-2 victory.

Nicholls falls to 8-10 on the year and 1-4 in conference. The Colonels will wrap up the weekend Saturday at home with a non-conference match against Arkansas State. First serve is scheduled for 12 p.m.

Sam Houston (5-9, 1-3) swept doubles play, but the last two matches came down to the wire. The Bearkats jumped out early by taking the No. 2 match 8-0 as Catherine Gauthier/Emma Pitre were shutout by Sheridan Currie/Natalie Petaia. In the No. 3 match, Marie Aubert/Eva Castiglioni were point for point against Maddie Mortimore/Kayla Stevenson until Sam Houston pulled away late for a 8-5 win. Natalia Cardiff/Isla Brock then lost the No. 1 match to Tanya Postnikova/Nadia Dubyanskaya in extra points.

In singles play, Aubert and Cardiff took the No. 1 and 2 matches, respectively, but the Colonels were shutout the rest of the way. Aubert won in straight sets 6-1, 6-0, while Cardiff bounced by from a 3-6 loss to take the match 6-4, 10-7.

In the No. 3-6 matches, Sam Houston dominated, winning all four in straight sets. Castiglioni fell 6-1, 6-2; Brock lost 6-2, 6-2; Pitre was shutout and Gauthier fell 6-1, 6-1.

Sam Houston State 5, Nicholls 2
Singles competition
1. Marie Aubert (NICH) def. Imke Jagau (SHSU) 6-1, 6-0
2. Natalia Cardiff (NICH) def. Sheridan Currie (SHSU) 3-6, 6-4, 10-7
3. Tanya Postnikova (SHSU) def. Eva Castiglioni (NICH) 6-1, 6-2
4. Natalie Petaia (SHSU) def. Isla Brock (NICH) 6-2, 6-2
5. Maddie Mortimore (SHSU) def. Emma Pitre (NICH) 6-0, 6-0
6. Nadia Dubyanskaya (SHSU) def. Catherine Gauthier (NICH) 6-1, 6-1

Doubles competition
1. Tanya Postnikova/Nadia Dubyanskaya (SHSU) def. Natalia Cardiff/Isla Brock (NICH) 9-8 (10-5)
2. Sheridan Currie/Natalie Petaia (SHSU) def. Catherine Gauthier/Emma Pitre (NICH) 8-0
3. Maddie Mortimore/Kayla Stevenson (SHSU) def. Marie Aubert/Eva Castiglioni (NICH) 8-5

Match Notes:
Sam Houston State 5-9, 1-3
Nicholls 10-8, 3-2