THIBODAUX, La.  – Saturday turned out to be a big day for the Nicholls State University women's tennis team as the Colonels picked up their first Southland Conference victory in a 4-3 decision over Incarnate Word, and followed up with a 4-1 win over Louisiana-Lafayette at the Colonel Tennis Complex.
 
With the wins, Nicholls improved to 6-11 overall and 1-5 in Southland competition.
 
Milou Pietersz led Nicholls with a pair of wins on the No. 1 court, while she also teamed up with Julia Melendez against Incarnate Word (2-13, 0-5) to help secure the doubles point. Nicholls dropped the No. 2 match in doubles against UIW, but following Pietersz / Melendez' win at No. 1, Laia Charles and Isla Brock clinched the point with a 6-4 win.
 
In singles, Pietersz earned a shutout against Rachel Sadiq. Andrea Mastrippolito fell at No. 6, but the Colonel racked up two straight wins to claim their first conference victory. Clemence Krug won in three sets at No. 4, and Charles clinched the match with a 6-3, 6-4 win at No. 5. With the match decided, UIW won the last two courts to make the final, 4-3.
 
Against ULL (8-7), the teams only played singles. Charles started things off with a dominating 6-2, 6-0 win at No. 4, but the Ragin' Cajuns evened it up with a straight-set win at No. 6.
 
Melendez rebounded from her earlier loss to outlast Kelly Drew on the No. 2 court, 7-5, 6-2, and Pietersz capped her perfect day with a three-set win over Elena Sava at No. 1. Needing one more point to end the match, the Colonels received a three-set win from Brock at No. 3 against Melissa Burckhartt.
 
Nicholls will step out of conference play next Saturday (March 26) as they head to Hattiesburg, Miss. to face Southern Miss and UTSA.
 
Nicholls 4, Incarnate Word 3
Singles
1. Milou Pietersz (NICH) def. Rachel Sadiq (UIW) 6-0, 6-0
2. Matea Zemunik (UIW) def. Julia Melendez (NICH) 7-5, 6-3
3. Taryn Strahl (UIW) def. Isla Brock (NICH) 6-4, 1-6, 7-5
4. Clemence Krug (NICH) def. Sarah Savedra (UIW) 6-2, 4-6, 6-1
5. Laia Charles (NICH) def. Maria Batchinsky (UIW) 6-3, 6-4
6. Clarisa Salinas (UIW) def. Andrea Mastrippolito (NICH) 7-6 (7-3), 6-3
 
Doubles
1. Milou Pietersz/Julia Melendez (NICH) def. Rachel Sadiq/Matea Zemunik (UIW) 6-3
2. Taryn Strahl/Sarah Savedra (UIW) def. Ambika Pande/Clemence Krug (NICH) 6-1
3. Laia Charles/Isla Brock (NICH) def. Antea Dedic/Clarisa Salinas (UIW) 6-4
 
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (1,6,4,5,2,3)
 
 
Nicholls 4, Louisiana-Lafayette 1
Singles
1. Milou Pietersz (NICH) def. Sava, Elena (ULL) 6-3, 3-6, 7-5
2. Julia Melendez (NICH) def. Drew, Kelly (ULL) 7-5, 6-2
3. Isla Brock (NICH) def. Burckhartt, Melissa (ULL) 7-6 (7-2), 1-6, 6-4
4. Laia Charles (NICH) def. Brankovic, Dana (ULL) 6-2, 6-0
5. Clemence Krug (NICH) vs. Johnson, Abby (ULL) 6-4, 4-6, 5-4, unfinished
6. Way, Alexandra (ULL) def. Andrea Mastrippolito (NICH) 6-2, 6-2
 
Order of finish: Doubles (); Singles (4,6,2,1,3)