THIBODAUX, La. – Looking to solidify their spot in the Southland Conference Tournament race, the Nicholls State University women's tennis team came up short against Northwestern State as the Colonels fell to the Lady Demons, 5-2, Saturday afternoon at the Colonel Tennis Complex.
 
After falling in a highly contested doubles match, the Colonels (11-7, 4-4) gave up the first four singles matches to NSU (15-4, 8-0) as the Lady Demons clinched the team victory. For Nicholls, No. 102 Stephanie Barnett won in three sets over Tatiana Larina, 5-7, 7-5, 10-4 and Emma Kranendonk took down Daniela Simonova 6-4, 7-6 (9-0).
 
Kranendonk and Isla Brock started off doubles with an 8-4 setback, but Marie Aubert and Kateryna Nakonechna edged Aliona Ladutska/Amy Williams on the No. 3 court, 8-6. With the doubles point on the line, Barnett and Klara Skopac were handed an 8-6 defeat at No. 2.
 
In singles, Aubert, Skopac, Nakonechna and Brock all fell in straight sets. Brock, who played on the No. 5 court, saw her eight-match winning streak come to an end with a 6-4, 6-4 loss to Aliona Ladutska.
 
Nicholls wraps up the weekend with a Sunday match against Stephen F. Austin. First serve at the Colonel Tennis Complex is scheduled for 12 p.m.
 
Northwestern State 5, Nicholls 2
Singles competition
1. Polina Konop (NWLA) def. Marie Aubert (NICH) 6-2, 6-1
2. Stephanie Barnett (NICH) def. Tatiana Larina (NWLA) 5-7, 7-5, 10-4
3. Natalya Krutova (NWLA) def. Kateryna Nakonechna (NICH) 6-4, 6-1
4. Kateryna Piatakova (NWLA) def. Klara Skopac (NICH) 6-1, 6-1
5. Aliona Ladutska (NWLA) def. Isla Brock (NICH) 6-4, 6-4
6. Emma Kranendonk (NICH) def. Daniela Simonova (NWLA) 6-4, 7-6 (9-0)
 
Doubles competition
1. Polina Konop/Tatiana Larina (NWLA) def. Emma Kranendonk/Isla Brock (NICH) 8-4
2. Natalya Krutova/Kateryna Piatakova (NWLA) def. Stephanie Barnett/Klara Skopac (NICH) 8-6
3. Marie Aubert/Kateryna Nakonechna (NICH) def. Aliona Ladutska/Amy Williams (NWLA) 8-6
 
Match Notes:
Northwestern State 15-4, 8-0 SLC
Nicholls 11-7, 4-4 SLC
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (1,4,3,5,6,2)