NEW ORLEANS  – For the first time since 1999, the Nicholls State University women's tennis team will be competing for a Southland Conference Tournament title as the Colonels officially clinched a postseason berth with their 6-1 victory over New Orleans Friday at the University Tennis Center.
 
Nicholls has won three consecutive conference matches to improve its record to 14-7 on the year and 7-4 in Southland play. The Colonels wrap up the regular season on Saturday at Southeastern La.
 
Nicholls started out the match with a 1-0 lead after defeating the Privateers (6-10, 3-5) in two of the three doubles matches. Isla Brock and Emma Kranendonk won 8-2 over Grace Nolan/ Amina Mrad on the No. 2 court, but UNO took the top spot as Klara Skopac and Stephanie Barnett fell 8-6. Down to the No. 3 match, Marie Aubert and Kateryna Nakonechna squeaked out an 8-7 win over Hafsa Laraibi/ Yasmine Rashad to secure the point.
 
In singles, four of the Colonels' five wins came in straight sets, with Barnett's impressive comeback on the No. 1 court being the lone exception. After being shutout in her first set against Soledad Caderon, Barnett edged Calderon 7-6 before taking the final set 6-3. Aubert won 6-2, 6-2 at No. 2 and Brock picked up a 6-4, 7-6 win on the No. 5 court. Brock and Barnett both improved to 9-2 in conference play while Aubert upped her mark to 8-3.
 
On the No. 3 court, Nakonechna earned a big 6-4, 7-5 win to snap her six-match losing streak. Skopac notched her second win in a row with a 6-4, 7-5 win at No. 4, and Rashad prevented the clean sweep by the Colonels with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Kranendonk at No. 6.
 
The Colonels are currently the No. 4 seed, with a half-game lead over Stephen F. Austin and Southeastern. First serve against the Lady Lions tomorrow is scheduled for 12 p.m.
 
Nicholls 6, New Orleans 1
Singles competition
1. Stephanie Barnett (NICH) def. Soledad Calderon (UNO) 0-6, 7-6, 6-3
2. Marie Aubert (NICH) def. Grace Nolan (UNO) 6-2, 6-2
3. Kateryna Nakonechna (NICH) def. Anna Segarra Rius (UNO) 6-4, 7-5
4. Klara Skopac (NICH) def. Marta Sans (UNO) 6-4, 7-5
5. Isla Brock (NICH) def. Hafsa Laraibi (UNO) 6-4, 7-6
6. Yasmine Rashad (UNO) def. Emma Kranendonk (NICH) 6-4, 6-4
 
Doubles competition
1. Marta Sans/Soledad Calderon (UNO) def. Klara Skopac/Stephanie Barnett (NICH) 8-6
2. Isla Brock/Emma Kranendonk (NICH) def. Grace Nolan/Amina Mrad (UNO) 8-2
3. Marie Aubert/Kateryna Nakonechna (NICH) def. Hafsa Laraibi/Yasmine Rashad (UNO) 8-7
 
Match Notes:
Nicholls 14-7, 7-4
New Orleans 6-10, 3-5