THIBODAUX, La.  – After opening the season on the road against two ranks opponents, the Nicholls State University women's tennis team debuted at the Colonel Tennis Complex on Sunday and defeated in-state rival ULM, 5-2, to record its second straight win.

Nicholls (2-1) was able to get the always important doubles point for the second time in as many matches, winning two of three, before clinching the match by winning three of the first four completed pairings in singles. After the team victory was decided, the final two matches went three sets, with each team claiming a point.

In doubles, ULM took the No. 2 match as Stephanie Barnett and Klara Skopac fell 6-2. Emma Kranendonk and Isla Brock won at No. 1 with a score of 6-2 to even it up, and Marie Aubert/ Kateryna Nakonechna earned a 6-3 win at No. 3 for the doubles point.

Brock led Nicholls in singles, blanking Sthefani Rodriguez in straight sets at No. 6. Aubert then improved to 3-0 on the year with a 6-3, 6-1 win over Sophie Rufyikiri at No. 2, and ULM claimed its first point as Emma Kranendonk fell 6-2, 6-1 to Petra Horakova at No. 4.

Needing only one more point for the team victory, the Colonels' Barnett came through to seal the win with a 6-3, 6-1 triumph over Sandy Lochu at No. 3. Barnett is one of three Colonels who are undefeated in singles, joining Aubert and Brock (2-0).

In the top flight, Nakonechna dominated Medy Blankvoort in the first set with a shutout, but fell in the second set 6-2. The duo battled it out in the tiebreaker before Blankvoort claimed a 10-7 win. In the No. 5 match, Skopac lost her first set to Angela Tejedor, but came back to win 6-3, 10-7.

Nicholls returns to action on Feb. 15 at No. 21 Auburn. First serve is scheduled for 4 p.m.

Nicholls 5, ULM 2
Singles competition
1. Blankvoort, Medy (ULM) def. Kateryna Nakonechna (NICH) 0-6, 6-2, 1-0 (10-7)
2. Marie Aubert (NICH) def. Rufyikiri, Sophie (ULM) 6-3, 6-1
3. Stephanie Barnett (NICH) def. Lochu, Sandy (ULM) 6-3, 6-1
4. Horakova, Petra (ULM) def. Emma Kranendonk (NICH) 6-2, 6-1
5. Klara Skopac (NICH) def. Tejedor, Angela (ULM) 4-6, 6-3, 1-0 (10-7)
6. Isla Brock (NICH) def. Rodriguez, Sthefani (ULM) 6-0, 6-0

Doubles competition
1. Emma Kranendonk/Isla Brock (NICH) def. Horakova, Petra/Tejedor, Angela (ULM) 6-3
2. Blankvoort, Medy/Rufyikiri, Sophie (ULM) def. Stephanie Barnett/Klara Skopac (NICH) 6-2
3. Marie Aubert/Kateryna Nakonechna (NICH) def. Lochu, Sandy/Rodriguez, Sthefani (ULM) 6-3

Match Notes:
ULM 0-2
Nicholls 2-1
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (6,2,4,3,1,5)