HAMMOND, La. – While the Nicholls State University women's tennis team has been carried all season by its top two singles players, it was the bottom of the lineup that came through on Saturday in the regular season finale as the Colonels won their fourth straight conference match, defeating Southeastern Louisiana 4-3 at the Southeastern Tennis Complex.
 
Nicholls (15-7, 8-4) took the doubles point over SLU (14-6, 6-5), winning the No. 2 and 3 courts. After falling 8-1 on court No. 1, Marie Aubert and Kateryna Nakonechna returned the favor with an 8-1 win at No. 3. Stephanie Barnett and Klara Skopac then secured the point with an 8-5 win.
 
In singles action, Barnett and Aubert lost on the same day for the first time since March 9, dropping straight set matches to Renee Villarreal and Nastya Tokareva, respectively. At No. 3, Skopac lost a three-set battle to Valya Rusakova, 1-6, 7-6 (7-5), 10-3.
 
On the No. 4 court, Nakonechna won her second straight conference match with a 6-1, 7-6 (7-4) victory, and Isla Brock continued her impressive sophomore campaign with a dominating 6-2, 6-0 win over Margaux Kaltenbacher on the No. 5 court. Emma Kranendonk kept the bottom half of the singles lineup undefeated by knocking off Adriana Castillo, 6-3, 7-5.
 
The Colonels return to action in the Southland Conference Tournament, which is scheduled to begin Friday, April 25 in Corpus Christi, Texas. Nicholls will be the No. 4 seed, with its opponent yet to be determined.
 
Nicholls 4, Southeastern La. 3
Singles competition
1. Renee Villarreal (SLU) def. Stephanie Barnett (NICH) 6-2, 6-3
2. Nastya Tokareva (SLU) def. Marie Aubert (NICH) 6-3, 6-4
3. Valya Rusakova (SLU) def. Klara Skopac (NICH) 1-6, 7-6 (7-5), 10-3
4. Kateryna Nakonechna (NICH) def. Avika Sagwal (SLU) 6-1, 7-6 (7-4)
5. Isla Brock (NICH) def. Margaux Kaltenbacher (SLU) 6-2, 6-0
6. Emma Kranendonk (NICH) def. Adriana Castillo (SLU) 6-3, 7-5
 
Doubles competition
1. Valya Rusakova/Renee Villarreal (SLU) def. Isla Brock/Emma Kranendonk (NICH) 8-1
2. Stephanie Barnett/Klara Skopac (NICH) def. Adriana Castillo/Reginka Nychytailova (SLU) 8-5
3. Marie Aubert/Kateryna Nakonechna (NICH) def. Margaux Kaltenbacher/Nastya Tokareva (SLU) 8-1
 
Match Notes:
Nicholls 15-7, 8-4 SLC
Southeastern La. 14-6, 6-5 SLC