TROY, Ala.  – Playing in their final non-conference event before starting Southland Conference play, the Nicholls State University women's tennis team earned a split in the Troy Trojan Jamboree on Friday. The Colonels blanked Alabama A&M, 7-0, but came up short against host Troy, 4-3.
 
Nicholls (4-2) completely overpowered Alabama A&M, allowing just one point in the two completed doubles matches. Not much was different in singles as the Colonel won all six matches in straight sets, claimed 6-0 victories in four different sets and allowed only one opponent to score more than two points in a single set.
 
The competition was much stiffer against Troy as the Colonels dropped the doubles point to fall behind 1-0. Marie Aubert and Klara Skopac were shutout on the No. 3 court while Stephanie Barnett/Milou Pietersz fell 6-2 on the No. 1 court.
 
In singles, Barnett suffered a 6-1, 6-1 loss at No. 1, but Nicholls reeled off three straight victories to take a 3-2 lead. Aubert dominated on the No. 2 court, winning 6-0, 6-2 over Sanae Ohta before Skopac won 6-2, 6-2 on No. 3 versus Anja Cosovic. The Colonels' last point came on No. 6 when Isla Brock won via retirement.
 
Troy took the No. 4 court, 6-3, 6-3 as Jiayuan Xue defeated Pietersz to tie the score. In the decisive match at No. 5, the Trojans' Linnea Skymberg would come away with a 6-4, 7-6 (10-8) win over Kateryna Nakonechna.
 
The Colonels will begin conference play on Friday, Feb. 27 at New Orleans.  First serve is scheduled for 3 p.m.
 
Nicholls 7, Alabama A&M 0
 
Singles
1. Stephanie Barnett (NICH) def. Viraq Hollos (AAMU) 6-2, 6-2
2. Klara Skopac (NICH) def. Jessica Taylor (AAMU) 6-1, 6-1
3. Milou Pietersz (NICH) def. Orianna Rodriguez (AAMU) 6-0, 6-2
4. Kateryna Nakonechna (NICH) def. Sharre Smith (AAMU) 6-4, 2-2, retired
5. Emma Kranendonk (NICH) def. Khyana Price (AAMU) 6-0, 6-0
6. Laia Charles (NICH) def. Jasmine Jenkins (AAMU) 6-0, 6-1
 
Doubles
1. Stephanie Barnett/Milou Pietersz (NICH) vs. Jessica Taylor/Viraq Hollos (AAMU) 5-2, unfinished
2. Isla Brock/Kateryna Nakonechna (NICH) def. Orianna Rodriguez/Sharre Smith (AAMU) 6-1
3. Laia Charles/Emma Kranendonk (NICH) def. Khyana Price/Jasmine Jenkins (AAMU) 6-0
 
Match Notes:
Alabama A&M 0-1
Nicholls 4-1
 
 
Troy 4, Nicholls 3
 
Singles
1. Trang Huynh (TROY) def. Stephanie Barnett (NICH) 6-1, 6-1
2. Marie Aubert (NICH) def. Sanae Ohta (TROY) 6-0, 6-2
3. Klara Skopac (NICH) def. Anja Cosovic (TROY) 6-2, 6-2
4. Jiayuan Xue (TROY) def. Milou Pietersz (NICH) 6-3, 6-3
5. Linnea Skymberg (TROY) def. Kateryna Nakonechna (NICH) 6-4, 7-6 (10-8)
6. Isla Brock (NICH) def. Margot De Haan (TROY) 6-6, retired
 
Doubles
1. Anja Cosovic/Trang Huynh (TROY) def. Stephanie Barnett/Milou Pietersz (NICH) 6-2
2. Linnea Skymberg/Jiayuan Xue (TROY) vs. Kateryna Nakonechna/Isla Brock (NICH) 5-2, unfinished
3. Sanae Ohta/Brooke Durden (TROY) def. Marie Aubert/Klara Skopac (NICH) 6-0
 
Match Notes:
Nicholls 4-2
Troy 3-4
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1); Singles (1,2,6,3,4,5)