THIBODAUX, La.  – Playing without the reigning Southland Conference Player of the Year Stephanie Barnett, the Nicholls State University women's tennis team put up a valiant effort against McNeese State in its home conference opener, but the Cowgirls came away with a 7-0 victory on Tuesday at the Colonel Tennis Complex.
 
The loss dropped Nicholls to 3-7 overall and 0-1 in conference. McNeese improved to 9-4 on the season and 2-0 in league play.
 
With Barnett out of the lineup due to an injury, the Colonels had only five players, resulting in forfeit wins for McNeese at No. 3 doubles and No. 6 singles. The Cowgirls needed to win just one doubles match, and the visitors claimed the point after Clemence Krug / Isla Brock were defeated 6-4 on the No. 2 court by Julia Kral / Charoline Erlandsson.
 
Leading 2-0, the Cowgirls inched closer to the team victory after Sarah Jurakova knocked off Krug at No. 3, 6-0, 6-3. On the No. 4 court, Brock put up a strong effort against Hannah Brett, but ended up losing both sets by a score of 6-4.
 
With the team win sealed, Eldandsson's straight-set win at No. 5 over Laia Charles pushed the advantage to 5-0. Milou Pietersz won the first set at No. 1 against Giovanna Fioretti; however, Fioretti took the next two, 6-1, 6-2, to complete the comeback victory.
 
The final match at No. 2 was an intense battle between the Colonels' Julia Melendez and Kral. Kral won the first set, 6-4, before Melendez evened it up with a 7-5 win in the second. In the super tiebreaker – first to 10 points - Melendez hand the upper hand early and looked to be on her way to a 6-4 lead, but Kral lobbed a shot over her head that landed just inside the baseline to even the score at 5. From then on, Kral held a slim lead and went on to win 10-7 to secure the shutout.
 
The Colonels will play two more conference matches at home this week, taking on Sam Houston State on Friday (2 p.m.) and Lamar (12 p.m.) on Saturday.
 
McNeese State 7, Nicholls 0
Singles
1. Giovanna Fioretti (MCN) def. Milou Pietersz (NICH) 4-6, 6-1, 6-2
2. Julia Kral (MCN) def. Julia Melendez (NICH) 6-4, 5-7, 10-7
3. Sarah Jurakova (MCN) def. Clemence Krug (NICH) 6-0, 6-3
4. Hannah Brett (MCN) def. Isla Brock (NICH) 6-4, 6-4
5. Charoline Erlandsson (MCN) def. Laia Charles (NICH) 6-3, 7-5
6. No player (MCN) def. No player (NICH), by default
 
Doubles
1. Milou Pietersz/Julia Melendez (NICH) vs. Giovanna Fioretti/Sarah Jurakova (MCN) 5-3, unfinished
2. Julia Kral/Charoline Erlandsson (MCN) def. Clemence Krug/Isla Brock (NICH) 6-4
3. No player/No player (MCN) def. No player/No player (NICH), by default
 
Match Notes:
McNeese State 9-4, 2-0
Nicholls 3-7, 0-1
Order of finish: Doubles (2); Singles (3,4,5,1,2)