THIBODAUX, La.  – The Nicholls State University women's tennis team took a 1-0 lead after doubles play in its Southland Conference opener match against McNeese State, but the Cowgirls came out on top with five wins in singles to defeat Nicholls 5-2 on Sunday afternoon at the Colonel Tennis Complex.

"I am extremely proud of our girls today. We just came up a bit short in singles, losing some very competitive matches," said Nicholls head tennis coach Meenakshi Sundaram. "I have to give a lot of credit to McNeese, they are a very good team."

The Colonels (5-4, 0-1) grabbed an early lead with wins at No. 2 and No. 3 doubles. Klara Skopac and Stephanie Barnett won 8-5 on court No. 2, and Marie Aubert and Kateryna Nakonechna earned an 8-4 win over Julia Kral/ Annabelle Peacock.

McNeese (5-4, 1-0) took the lead after straight set wins on the No. 3 and No. 6 courts, where Nakonecna fell 6-2, 6-1 and Emma Kranedonk dropped a 6-4, 7-5 decision. Skopac went undefeated on the day with a 6-3, 7-5 win at No. 5 to even the score at 2-2.

In the top two pairings, the Cowgirls claimed the points after close matches. Aubert was defeated by Klaudia Gawlik 6-3, 5-7, 6-2 at No. 1, and Barnett fell 7-6, 4-6, 7-6 to Sara Castellano. With the win already clinched, McNeese's Vivien Borbely gave the Cowgirls their final point after a 6-4, 6-7, 6-3 win over Isla Brock at No. 4.

The Colonels will continue their five-match home stand with a doubleheader on Wednesday, March 12. Nicholls opens the day with a 9 a.m. conference match against Oral Roberts, and will take on Texas Pan-American at 2 p.m.

McNeese 5, Nicholls 2
Singles competition
1. Klaudia Gawlik (MCN) def. Marie Aubert (NICH) 6-3, 5-7, 6-2
2. Sara Castellano (MCN) def. Stephanie Barnett (NICH) 7-6, 4-6, 7-6
3. Julia Kral (MCN) def. Kateryna Nakonechna (NICH) 6-2, 6-1
4. Vivien Borbely (MCN) def. Isla Brock (NICH) 6-4, 6-7, 6-3
5. Klara Skopac (NICH) def. Anastasia Surkova (MCN) 6-3, 7-5
6. Annabelle Peacock (MCN) def. Emma Kranendonk (NICH) 6-4, 7-5

Doubles competition
1. Emma Kranendonk/Isla Brock (NICH) vs. Klaudia Gawlik/Sara Castellano (MCN) unfinished
2. Klara Skopac/Stephanie Barnett (NICH) def. Vivien Borbely/Anastasia Surkova (MCN) 8-5
3. Marie Aubert/Kateryna Nakonechna (NICH) def. Julia Kral/Annabelle Peacock (MCN) 8-4

Match Notes:
McNeese 5-4, 1-0
Nicholls 5-4, 0-1