CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas  – The Nicholls State University women's tennis team took a 1-0 lead against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi after remaining undefeated in doubles in Southland play, but the Islanders were able to overcome the deficit by winning four singles matches to give the Colonels their first loss of the season in conference in a 4-3 decision on Sunday at the Thomas J. Henry Tennis Center.
 
After wins in singles by Stephanie Barnett and Isla Brock, the Colonels (13-4, 6-1 SLC) found themselves up 3-2 with only two matches remaining. The Islanders (9-7, 3-3 SLC) evened up the match as Klara Skopac fell on the No. 2 court to Jelena Dzinic, 6-3, 7-5.
 
In the final match at No. 3, Marie Aubert bounced back from a 6-4 loss to Celia Rodriguez in the first set to even it up with a 6-1 win. In the third and decisive set, Rodriguez came away with a 7-5 win to end the match and extend the Islanders' winning streak to seven matches in the all-time series.
 
Things looked promising for Nicholls early on as they continued their dominance in doubles play, winning the point for the seventh time in seven conference matches. Barnett and Skopac took the No. 1 court, 8-2, while Aubert and Milou Pietersz clinched the point with an 8-3 win at No. 2.
 
In singles, Barnett stayed undefeated in conference with a 6-3, 6-2 win at No. 1 against Judit Vives. But the Islanders evened the match at 2-2 after Katia Jordan and Pietersz suffered straight-set losses at 5 and 4, respectively. Brock would bring Nicholls to within a point of clinching after her 6-1, 7-6 (7-5) victory at No. 6, but the Colonels would come up short on the 2 and 3 courts.
 
The Colonels will step out of conference play for a match against in-state rival Louisiana-Lafayette on Tuesday, March 31, in Lafayette. First serve is scheduled for 2 p.m.
 
Texas A&M - Corpus Christi 4, Nicholls 3

Singles
1. Stephanie Barnett (NICH) def. Judit Vives (AMCC) 6-3, 6-2
2. Jelena Dzinic (AMCC) def. Klara Skopac (NICH) 6-3, 7-5
3. Celia Rodriguez (AMCC) def. Marie Aubert (NICH) 6-4, 1-6, 7-5
4. Maider Martin (AMCC) def. Milou Pietersz (NICH) 6-4, 6-2
5. Kerry Galhos (AMCC) def. Katia Jordan (NICH) 6-2, 6-3
6. Isla Brock (NICH) def. Chelsea Horan (AMCC) 6-1, 7-6 (7-5)
 
Doubles
1. Stephanie Barnett/Klara Skopac (NICH) def. Celia Rodriguez/Maider Martin (AMCC) 8-2
2. Marie Aubert/Milou Pietersz (NICH) def. Chelsea Horan/Jelena Dzinic (AMCC) 8-3
3. Judit Vives/Kerry Galhos (AMCC) vs. Kateryna Nakonechna/Isla Brock (NICH) 4-7, unfinished
 
Match Notes:
Nicholls 13-4, 6-1 SLC
Texas A&M - Corpus Christi 9-7, 3-3 SLC
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2); Singles (1,5,4,6,2,3)