NATCHITOCHES, La. – The Nicholls State University women's tennis team took one step closer to earning its first Southland Conference championship in 20 years as the Colonels shutout Northwestern State, 4-0, on Friday afternoon at the Jack Fisher Tennis Complex to move into sole possession of second place in the standings.
 
The win by Nicholls (16-4, 8-1 SLC) sets up a huge Saturday matchup at Stephen F. Austin, which defeated McNeese State, 4-2, on Friday to stay in first place in the Southland at 7-0. A win would put the Colonels in a tie for first place with only one match remaining on the regular season schedule for Nicholls.
 
Against Northwestern State (10-8, 6-2), the doubles point turned out to be a battle as the teams split the first two completed matches. Kateryna Nakonechna and Isla Brock started things off with an 8-3 win over Aliona Ladutska / Emily Kerr at No. 3, but NSU evened it up as Stephanie Barnett and Klara Skopac fell 8-4 at No. 1 to Tatiana Larina / Natalya Krutova.
 
In the decisive No. 2 match, Marie Aubert and Milou Pietersz found themselves tied at 4-4 with Polina Ivanova / Kateryna Piatakova, but the Colonels would win the final four points to clinch the point with an 8-4 victory. In nine conference matches this season, the Colonels have come away with the doubles point eight times.
 
The momentum carried over to the singles court as Aubert cruised to a 6-1, 6-0 win at No. 3 over Ladutska. On the No. 1 court, Barnett disposed of Lariana in straight sets, 6-1, 6-2, before Brock closed out the match with a 6-2, 6-0 win over Piatakova at No. 6. In the three unfinished matches, the Colonels won all three of the first sets and led in the second.
 
With the victories in singles action, Aubert upped her record in conference play to 8-1, while Barnett and Brock remained undefeated at 9-0.
 
Nicholls 4, Northwestern State 0
 
Singles
1. Stephanie Barnett (NICH) def. Tatiana Larina (NWLA) 6-1, 6-2
2. Natalya Krutova (NWLA) vs. Klara Skopac (NICH) 4-6, 1-3, unfinished
3. Marie Aubert (NICH) def. Aliona Ladutska (NWLA) 6-1, 6-0
4. Polina Ivanova (NWLA) vs. Milou Pietersz (NICH) 4-6, 3-4, unfinished
5. Barbora Kollarova (NWLA) vs. Kateryna Nakonechna (NICH) 4-6, 0-1, unfinished
6. Isla Brock (NICH) def. Kateryna Piatakova (NWLA) 6-2, 6-0
 
Doubles
1. Tatiana Larina/Natalya Krutova (NWLA) def. Stephanie Barnett/Klara Skopac (NICH) 8-4
2. Marie Aubert/Milou Pietersz (NICH) def. Polina Ivanova/Kateryna Piatakova (NWLA) 8-4
3. Kateryna Nakonechna/Isla Brock (NICH) def. Aliona Ladutska/Emily Kerr (NWLA) 8-3
 
Match Notes:
Nicholls 16-4, 8-1 SLC
Northwestern State 10-8, 6-2 SLC
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (3,1,6)
T-1:40 A-124