ABILENE, Texas – The Nicholls State University women's tennis team lost a hard-fought 5-2 against Abilene Christian on Saturday afternoon at the Eager Tennis Pavilion.
 
With the loss, Nicholls slips down to 10-6 overall and 4-3 in Southland play. ACU improves to 12-4 and 4-2.
 
The Colonels lost the doubles point before Marie Aubert and Isla Brock captured wins in singles. Aubert, a junior, secured her third consecutive season with double figures in wins in singles while Brock won her seventh straight singles match to improve to 12-1 on the year.
 
ACU took the No. 1 doubles match 8-1, and then claimed the point with an 8-4 win on the No. 3 court. Brock quickly tied it up in singles play with a dominating 6-1, 6-1 win over Emily Conrad at No. 5.
 
The Wildcats took the next two matches as Klara Skopac and Emma Kranendonk fell in straight sets in No. 3 and No. 6, respectively. Aubert pulled the Colonels within a point after a 6-2, 6-3 win over Brittany Reed on the No. 2 court.
 
The final two matches needed three sets, but ACU came out on top in both pairings. Kateryna Nakonechna lost 6-4, 3-6, 6-1 at No. 4 as ACU secured the team victory, and Stephanie Barnett was outlasted by Micah Hermsdorf on the No. 1 court, 6-7, 6-3, 10-5.
 
The Colonels will step out of conference play for their next match, hosting Louisiana-Lafayette on Wednesday, April 9. First serve at the Colonel Tennis Complex is scheduled for 2 p.m.
 
Abilene Christian 5, Nicholls 2
Singles competition
1. Micah Hermsdorf (ACU) def. #102 Stephanie Barnett (NICH) 6-7, 6-3, 10-5
2. Marie Aubert (NICH) def. Brittney Reed (ACU) 6-2, 6-3
3. Erin Walker (ACU) def. Klara Skopac (NICH) 6-1, 6-2
4. Kaysie Hermsdorf (ACU) def. Kateryna Nakonechna (NICH) 6-4, 3-6, 6-1
5. Isla Brock (NICH) def. Emily Conrad (ACU) 6-1, 6-1
6. Nada Marjanovic (ACU) def. Emma Kranendonk (NICH) 6-3, 6-1

Doubles competition
1. Kaysie Hermsdorf/Micah Hermsdorf (ACU) def. Klara Skopac/Emma Kranendonk (NICH) 8-1
2. Brittney Reed/Erin Walker (ACU) vs. Stephanie Barnett/Isla Brock (NICH) 5-6, unfinished
3. Nada Marjanovic/Emily Conrad (ACU) def. Marie Aubert/Kateryna Nakonechna (NICH) 8-4

Match Notes:
Nicholls 10-6 (4-3 SLC)
Abilene Christian 12-4 (4-2 SLC)
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (5,3,6,2,4,1)