HOUMA, La. – The Nicholls State University women's tennis team faced Abilene Christian in Houma on Tuesday afternoon and was defeated, 6-1,  at the Renaissance Family Fitness tennis courts.
 
With the loss, Nicholls fell to 3-11 on the season and 0-5 in conference play. ACU upped its record to 12-5 and 2-1.
 
Laia Charles and Isla Brock picked up a win at No. 3 doubles, but ACU took the point by winning courts 2 and 1. The Wildcats started off with a shutout victory on court 2 before the Colonels won 6-3 at No. 3. ACU wrapped up doubles play as Milou Pietersz and Julia Melendez fell 6-4 to Whitney Williams / Erin Walker in the top pairing.
 
The Colonels had a rough showing in singles, losing four of the six matches in straight sets. Clemence Krug dropped both of her sets, 6-3, at No. 4, while Brock fell 6-2 in each of hers at No. 3. ACU clinched the match as Andrea Mastrippolito was defeated at No. 6, and the Wildcats tacked on another point as Charles dropped the No. 5 match.
 
The top two matches in singles went three sets, highlighted by a victory at No. 1 by Pietersz. Facing ACU's Walker, Pietersz won the first and third sets to claim her first conference win of the season. At No. 2, Melendez won the first set over Kaysie Hermsdorf, but was edged 7-6 in the next two.
 
The Colonels will return to the courts on Friday as they host Xavier (La.) at 2 p.m.
 
Abilene Christian 6, Nicholls 1
 
Singles
1. Milou Pietersz (NICH) def. Erin Walker (ACU) 7-5, 4-6, 6-4
2. Kaysie Hermsdorf (ACU) def. Julia Melendez (NICH) 4-6, 7-6, 7-6
3. Lucile Pothier (ACU) def. Isla Brock (NICH) 6-2, 6-2
4. Nada Marjanovic (ACU) def. Clemence Krug (NICH) 6-3, 6-3
5. Whitney Williams (ACU) def. Laia Charles (NICH) 6-2, 6-3
6. Jordan Henry (ACU) def. Andrea Mastrippolito (NICH) 6-1, 6-2
 
Doubles
1. Whitney Williams/Erin Walker (ACU) def. Milou Pietersz/Julia Melendez (NICH) 6-4
2. Lucile Pothier/Kaysie Hermsdorf (ACU) def. Ambika Pande/Clemence Krug (NICH) 6-0
3. Laia Charles/Isla Brock (NICH) def. Andrea Crook/Nada Marjanovic (ACU) 6-3
 
Match Notes:
Abilene Christian 12-5, 2-1
Nicholls 3-11, 0-5
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (4,3,6,5,2,1)