THIBODAUX, La. – The Nicholls State University women's tennis team won the doubles point for the third time in conference play, but Northwestern State had the upper hand in singles competition as the Colonels fell, 4-3, to the Lady Demons on Saturday at the Colonel Tennis Complex.
 
With the loss, Nicholls slipped to 6-15 and 1-7 in league play, while Northwestern State improved to 8-10 and 4-4.
 
The duo of Isla Brock and Laia Charles got things started for Nicholls as they won their sixth consecutive doubles match, taking court two over Iryna Vardanian / Polina Mutel, 6-3. Ambika Panda and Clemence Krug quickly followed up with a 6-4 win over Ilijana Ivic / Barbora Kollarova at court three, giving Nicholls the early 1-0 lead.
 
Northwestern State took the lead in singles as they reeled off three straight-set wins. Andrea Mastrippolito was held to one point on court six against Alzbeta Veverkova, Milou Pietersz fell 6-4, 6-2 on court one against Natalya Krutova, and Charles was edged by Polina Ivanova, 6-4, 7-5 on court three.
 
Krug ended the drought with a hard-found win on court five against Kollarova. Krug took the first set, 7-5, and needed to go into extra points in the second for a 7-6 (7-4) win.
 
With two matches left, Nicholls needed to win both, and each went into three sets. Julia Melendez and Brock each won the first set before dropping the second. Melendez' match at number two was the first to finish as Vardanian came out on top with a 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 win to clinch the victory for the Lady Demons. Brock and Mutel went into extra points in the final set as Brock notched her fourth win in conference with a 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 (9-7) victory.
 
The Colonels will play in Thibodaux for the final time this season as they host Stephen F. Austin on Sunday, April 3 at the Colonel Tennis Complex. First serve is scheduled for 1 p.m.
 
Northwestern State 4, Nicholls 3
Singles
1. Natalya Krutova (NWST) def. Milou Pietersz (NICH) 6-4, 6-2
2. Iryna Vardanian (NWST) def. Julia Melendez (NICH) 2-6, 6-4, 6-4
3. Isla Brock (NICH) def. Polina Mutel (NWST) 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 (9-7)
4. Polina Ivanova (NWST) def. Laia Charles (NICH) 6-4, 7-5
5. Clemence Krug (NICH) def. Barbora Kollarova (NWST) 7-5, 7-6 (7-4)
6. Alzbeta Veverkova (NWST) def. Andrea Mastrippolito (NICH) 6-1, 6-0
 
Doubles
1. Natalya Krutova/Polina Ivanova (NWST) vs. Milou Pietersz/Julia Melendez (NICH) no result
2. Isla Brock/Laia Charles (NICH) def. Iryna Vardanian/Polina Mutel (NWST) 6-3
3. Ambika Pande/Clemence Krug (NICH) def. Ilijana Ivic/Barbora Kollarova (NWST) 6-4
 
Match Notes:
Northwestern State 8-10, 4-4
Nicholls 6-15, 1-7
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3); Singles (6,1,4,5,2,3)