THIBODAUX, La.  – The Nicholls women's tennis team lost its third consecutive match with a 5-2 loss to Arkansas State Saturday at the Colonel Tennis Complex.

With the loss, Nicholls falls to 8-11 on the year and 4-3 at home. Arkansas State improves to 5-6.

The Colonels had a strong showing in doubles, taking two of three to take a 1-0 lead. Natalia Cardiff and Isla Brock dominated the No. 1 match against Ioana Teu/Janie Nowland with an 8-2 victory, while Eva Castiglioni/Marie Aubert won the No. 3 match 8-5. In the No. 2 pairing, Emma Pitre/Catherine Gauthier lost 8-1, preventing the sweep for the Colonels.

It was a different story in singles play as Cardiff was the only Colonel to win a set, taking both of hers in the No. 2 match against Nowland, 6-1 6-4. With the exception of Aubert's 7-5, 6-1 loss to Tamara Slijepcevic at No. 1, no Nicholls players were able to score more than three points in the rest of the lineup as Arkansas State took the match 5-2.

The Colonels return to the court next weekend with a pair of conference matches at Stephen F. Austin (April 6) and Northwestern State (April 7). First serve is scheduled for 10 a.m. in both matches.

Arkansas State 5, Nicholls 2
Singles competition
1. Slijepcevic, Tamara (ASUW) def. Marie Aubert (NICH) 7-5, 6-1
2. Natalia Cardiff (NICH) def. Nowland, Janie (ASUW) 6-1, 6-4
3. Miloshevska, Biljana (ASUW) def. Isla Brock (NICH) 6-1, 6-2
4. Teu, Ioana (ASUW) def. Eva Castiglioni (NICH) 6-3, 6-3
5. Heeps-Eriksen, Jess (ASUW) def. Emma Pitre (NICH) 6-2, 6-3
6. Krsmanovic, Sofia (ASUW) def. Catherine Gauthier (NICH) 6-2, 6-3

Doubles competition
1. Natalia Cardiff/Isla Brock (NICH) def. Teu, Ioana/Nowland, Janie (ASUW) 8-2
2. Heeps-Eriksen, Jess/Slijepcevic, Tamara (ASUW) def. Emma Pitre/Catherine Gauthier (NICH) 8-1
3. Eva Castiglioni/Marie Aubert (NICH) def. Miloshevska, Biljana/Stefanov, Chiara (ASUW) 8-5

Match Notes:
Arkansas State 5-6
Nicholls 8-11