HATTIESBURG, Miss.  – A dominating doubles performance by the Nicholls State University women's tennis team carried over into singles as the Colonels came away with an impressive 4-3 win at Southern Miss Wednesday at the USM Tennis Complex.
 
With the win, Nicholls improved to 5-2 on the season while the Golden Eagles lost for just the third time in 10 matches this year.
 
"We played some of our best doubles of the season," said Greg Harkins, Nicholls tennis head coach. "We just came out on fire and closed out the doubles in about 35 minutes. Just great efforts at lines 2 and 3, and it looked like we were going to finish them off at 1 as well."
 
 In the two completed doubles matches, the Colonels allowed just three combined points. Marina Vigil/Mariia Kozachok won 6-1 at No. 2, while Changwei Wei/Anastasia Kuzevanova took the No. 3 line, 6-2.
 
In singles, Southern Miss made quick work on the No. 5 and 6 courts, allowing one point in the four sets. But Kozachok won in straight sets before Stephanie Barnett took the No. 1 court in three. Following a loss at No. 2 that tied it up, Vigil picked up the deciding point on the No. 4 line with a 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 win over Tjasa Jerse.
 
"I have to give huge credit to what I call our 'M&M's – Marina (Vigil) and Mariia (Kozachok) - once again, they came through in tough matches. Stephanie (Barnett) fought back from her second set and Mariia won in straight sets. It came down to Marina at 4. She dropped the first set and really gutted out a win in the second. She then put the pedal to the metal in the third to close it out."
 
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Nicholls will play two matches in Alabama this weekend, taking on Troy (March 3) and Alabama State (March 4). Both matches will start at 1 p.m.