BEAUMONT, Texas – The Nicholls State University women's tennis team opened up play in the Southland Conference Tournament with a victory as the No. 1 seed Colonels defeated No. 8 seed Southeastern Louisiana, 4-0, on Friday afternoon at the Beaumont Municipal Tennis Center.
With the win, Nicholls (19-4) advances to the semifinals to take on No. 4 McNeese State (13-7), which defeated Texas A&M-Corpus Christ, 4-1, in the first round. Nicholls picked up a win against the Cowgirls on the road earlier this season, 6-1.
Facing Southeastern (11-10) for the second consecutive match, the Colonels did not let their guard down despite the lopsided victory over the Lady Lions to end the season. Nicholls swept the doubles point once again, but the singles matches were more competitive than the first go around. Although Nicholls won the first three completed matches, the Lady Lions were able to win three sets in the unfinished matches.
The Colonels' No. 1 doubles duo
Stephanie Barnett and
Klara Skopac started things off with a convincing 8-2 win over Renee Villarreal and Lucia Bustamante. Needing just one more win to clinch the point,
Isla Brock and
Kateryna Nakonechna came through with an 8-2 win as well on the No. 3 court.
Up 1-0 heading into singles, the Colonels looked to duplicate their effort in the finale against the Lady Lions, which saw Nicholls take five of the six matches. Senior
Marie Aubert was the first Colonel to claim a point as she took down Margaux Kaltenbacher in straight sets, 6-1, 6-2. Nakonechna then avenged her loss last weekend on the No. 5 court with a 6-3, 6-0 victory over Dany Raygadas to put Nicholls one point away from advancing.
While Southeastern was able to push the three unfinished matches to a third set, none were able to finish before Brock clinched the team victory with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Natalie Duran at No. 6. With the two wins on Friday, Brock improved her combined doubles and singles postseason record to 4-0.
In the unfinished matches, Barnett lost the first set to fellow first-teamer Villarreal, 7-6, but came back to win the second, 6-4, on the No. 1 court. At No. 2, Skopac was a point away from clinching her set against Bustamante, 6-4, 2-6, 5-2, and on the No. 4 court,
Milou Pietersz and Madina Vorotnikova ended at 3-6, 6-2, 2-2.
The victory was the first in the postseason for Nicholls since 1999, when the Colonels advanced to the semifinals by defeating McNeese State.
Nicholls 4, Southeastern Louisiana 0
Singles
1. Stephanie Barnett (NICH) vs. Renee Villarreal (SLU) 6-7, 6-4, unfinished
2. Klara Skopac (NICH) vs. Lucia Bustamante (SLU) 6-4, 2-6, 5-2, unfinished
3. Marie Aubert (NICH) def. Margaux Kaltenbacher (SLU) 6-1, 6-2
4. Milou Pietersz (NICH) vs. Madina Vorotnikova (SLU) 3-6, 6-1, 2-2, unfinished
5. Kateryna Nakonechna (NICH) def. Dany Raygadas (SLU) 6-3, 6-0
6. Isla Brock (NICH) def. Natalie Duran (SLU) 6-3, 6-2
Doubles
1. Stephanie Barnett/Klara Skopac (NICH) def. Renee Villarreal/Lucia Bustamante (SLU) 8-2
2. Marie Aubert/Milou Pietersz (NICH) vs. Margaux Kaltenbacher/Dany Raygadas (SLU) 2-6, unfinished
3. Isla Brock/Kateryna Nakonechna (NICH) def. Natalie Duran/Madina Vorotnikova (SLU) 8-2
Match Notes:
Southeastern Louisiana 11-10
Nicholls 19-4
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3); Singles (3,5,6)
Match one of Southland Conference Tournament
Nicholls - 1 seed
Southeastern Louisiana - 8 seed
Nicholls advances to the SLC Semifinals
T-1:58
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