THIBODAUX, La. – The Nicholls State University women's tennis team jumped out to a 3-0 lead over in-state rival ULM on Monday, but the Colonels were unable to earn the match-clinching point as they suffered a 4-3 loss at the Colonel Tennis Complex.
The setback for Nicholls (1-3) snapped a seven-match home winning streak, dating back to the 2013 season. The Warhawks improved to 1-0 on the year.
Things looked promising for the Red and Gray as they dominated doubles play, taking each court by the score of 6-1. In singles,
Stephanie Barnett stayed undefeated on the season with a 6-1, 6-4 win over Pauline Van Herck on the No. 1 court, and
Julia Melendez improved to 3-1 on the year with a straight set win at No. 4.
ULM earned its first point on the No. 6 court as Ioana Popescu defeated
Laia Charles, and then made it 3-2 as
Clemence Krug was ousted by Tiffany Mylonas at No. 3. On the No. 5 court,
Isla Brock fell in straight sets for the Colonels to Luana Stanciu, which evened the match at 3-all.
Like the Colonels' last home win over LA Tech, the match came down to
Milou Pietersz on the No. 2 court. Pietersz took the first set over Martina Husarova, but came up short in the second and third as ULM completed the comeback after Husarova's 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 victory.
Nicholls will return to action on Saturday, Feb. 6 as they take on Texas State in Gulf Shores, Ala.
ULM 4, Nicholls 3
Singles
1. Stephanie Barnett (NICH) def. Pauline Van Herck (ULM) 6-1, 6-4
2. Martina Husarova (ULM) def. Milou Pietersz (NICH) 4-6, 6-4, 6-2
3. Tiffany Mylonas (ULM) def. Clemence Krug (NICH) 6-2, 6-4
4. Julia Melendez (NICH) def. Patricia Villar (ULM) 6-0, 6-4
5. Luana Stanciu (ULM) def. Isla Brock (NICH) 6-4, 6-3
6. Ioana Popescu (ULM) def. Laia Charles (NICH) 6-2, 6-0
Doubles
1. Stephanie Barnett/Ambika Pande (NICH) def. Patricia Villar/Pauline Van Herck (ULM) 6-1
2. Isla Brock/Clemence Krug (NICH) def. Luana Stanciu/Tiffany Mylonas (ULM) 6-1
3. Julia Melendez/Milou Pietersz (NICH) def. Ioana Popescu/Martina Husarova (ULM) 6-1
Match Notes:
ULM 1-0
Nicholls 1-3
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (1,4,6,3,5,2)
