NEW ORLEANS – The Nicholls State University women's tennis team faced its second nationally ranked opponent in as many matches but this time, the Colonels were able to come away with a victory as Nicholls slipped past No. 56 Tulane, 4-3, on Friday evening at the City Park Center.

"What a team effort from the ladies today. Even the ones that did not win knew what they had to do and stayed out there as long as it took and continued to compete," Nicholls head coach Meenakshi Sundaram said.

Nicholls (1-1) split the singles matches against the Green Wave (1-3) by getting wins from Marie Aubert, Stephanie Barnett and Isla Brock after the Colonels claimed the doubles point.  Tulane jumped on the Colonels with a win at No. 1 in doubles, but Aubert and Kateryna Nakonechna evened it up with a 6-3 at the No. 3 spot. With the point on the line, Barnett and Klara Skopac duplicated the No. 3 matches' result with a 6-3 victory to give Nicholls a 1-0 lead.

Aubert made quick work of Jacqui Katz at No. 3 with a 7-5, 6-0 win; however, Tulane answered by taking the next three matches. Nakonechna was bounced in the top pairing, Skopac fell at No. 4 and Emma Kranendonk lost in the No. 5 spot as Tulane grabbed a 3-2 lead.

In the No. 6 slot, Brock won the first set against Margaux Hyman, 6-2, but Hyman came back with a 6-4 win in set two. The same result happened at No. 2 as Barnett won the first 6-1 before falling 4-6 in the second. Brock claimed the tiebreaker to even the match, and Barnett then clinched the win for the Colonels by taking the final set.

"These ladies have worked extremely well together on and off the court and it showed today, " Sundaram said. "The chemistry they share is special and this along with their self belief and work ethic will do them good for the remainder of the season."

Nicholls will take on its third straight in-state foe with a matchup against ULM on Sunday at the Colonel Tennis Complex. First serve is scheduled for 12 p.m.

Nicholls 4, #56 Tulane Green Wave 3

Singles competition
1. Klara Vyskocilova (TLN) def. Kateryna Nakonechna (NICH) 6-3, 6-0
2. Stephanie Barnett (NICH) def. Ipek Birol (TLN) 6-1, 4-6, 1-0 (7-0)
3. Marie Aubert (NICH) def. Jacqui Katz (TLN) 7-5, 6-0
4. Sophie Blom (TLN) def. Klara Skopac (NICH) 6-1, 6-3
5. Meredith Maltby (TLN) def. Emma Kranendonk (NICH) 6-2, 7-5
6. Isla Brock (NICH) def. Margaux Hyman (TLN) 6-2, 4-6, 1-0 (4-0)

Doubles competition
1. Klara Vyskocilova/Jacqui Katz (TLN) def. Emma Kranendonk/Isla Brock (NICH) 6-2
2. Stephanie Barnett/Klara Skopac (NICH) def. Ipek Birol/Sophie Blom (TLN) 6-3
3. Kateryna Nakonechna/Marie Aubert (NICH) def. Emily Dvorak/Meredith Maltby (TLN) 6-3

Match Notes:
Nicholls 1-1
Tulane Green Wave 1-3; National ranking #56
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (3,1,4,5,6,2)