LAKE CHARLES, La. – The Nicholls State University women's tennis team put together another dominating performance as the Colonels defeated McNeese State, 6-1, on Thursday afternoon at the Nancy Hank Tennis Center to extend their winning streak to six matches and remain undefeated in Southland Conference play.
 
With the win, Nicholls improved to 10-2 overall and 4-0 in the Southland. The victory also snapped a three-match streak in the series against McNeese, which dropped to 6-5 and 2-1.
 
Reigning SLC Player of the Week Stephanie Barnett highlighted the day for the Colonels by winning No. 1 singles over 2014 Southland Player of the Year, Klaudia Gawlik. In the first meeting between the two All-Southland honorees, Barnett came away with a 7-6, 6-1 victory. Barnett's win was the first conference setback for Gawlik, who entered the match 22-0 in Southland competition.
 
Barnett, a sophomore from Melbourne, Australia, also helped set the tone in doubles, teaming up with Klara Skopac for an 8-2 win on the No. 1 court against Gawlik and Anastasija Trubich. Nicholls also cruised in the No. 3 match as Kateryna Nakonechna and Isla Brock pitched a shutout with an 8-0 win.
 
The momentum carried over into singles play as the Colonels won five of the six matches, all coming in straight sets. Along with Barnett's win, Marie Aubert made easy work of Hannah Brett at No. 3 with a 6-2, 6-1 win and Milou Pietersz won the No. 4 match, 6-3, 6-4, over Vivien Borbely. Katia Jordan took the No. 5 court over Sarah Jurakova with a pair of 6-4 wins and Brock improved to 6-0 in singles on the year with a 6-4, 6-1 triumph over Trubich.
 
Nicholls has been red-hot since the end of February, winning two of their matches by shut outs and three by 6-1 decisions. Their closest outcome as of late was a 5-2 win over New Orleans, which started the current streak.
 
The Colonels will return to the courts on Sunday, March 22, as they host Central Arkansas. First serve at the Colonel Tennis Complex is scheduled for 10 a.m.
 
Nicholls 6, McNeese 1
 
Singles
1. Stephanie Barnett (NICH) def. Klaudia Gawlik (MCN) 7-6, 6-1
2. Julia Kral (MCN) def. Klara Skopac (NICH) 6-4, 4-6, 10-5
3. Marie Aubert (NICH) def. Hannah Brett (MCN) 6-2, 6-1
4. Milou Pietersz (NICH) def. Vivien Borbely (MCN) 6-3, 6-4
5. Katia Jordan (NICH) def. Sarah Jurakova (MCN) 6-4, 6-4
6. Isla Brock (NICH) def. Anastasija Trubich (MCN) 6-4, 6-1
 
Doubles
1. Stephanie Barnett/Klara Skopac (NICH) def. Klaudia Gawlik/Anastasija Trubich (MCN) 8-2
2. Julia Kral/Hannah Brett (MCN) vs. Marie Aubert/Milou Pietersz (NICH) 4-5, unfinished
3. Kateryna Nakonechna/Isla Brock (NICH) def. Sarah Jurakova/Vivien Borbely (MCN) 8-0
 
Match Notes:
Nicholls 10-2, 4-0 SLC
McNeese 6-5, 2-1 SLC