SAN ANTONIO, Texas - Facing a 3-1 deficit and a potential first loss in conference, the Nicholls State University women's tennis team reeled off three straight wins in singles to defeat UIW, 4-3, on Friday afternoon at the Mabry Tennis Center.
Constanza Cruz started the run with a straight-set win at No. 6, then
Jessie Mount kept the Colonels alive with a three-setter at No. 3.
Laura Lopez finished it out with a 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 win over Kinga Psut to give Nicholls (11-6, 3-0 SLC) its best start in Southland play since its championship season in 2015.
"We really dug deep and showed a lit of grit. It was the toughest road win we have had in the last few years" said Nicholls head coach
Greg Harkins. "They (UIW) had a great crowd and we got down early, but this team has a lot of will and fight and we stormed back. Laura and Jessie were just epic. It's not going to get any easier, but we are really proud of the girls and they brought that one home for Colonel Nation and the Bayou."
Nicholls fell in doubles play despite
Morgan Forshag and
Sophia Sara Safarova winning at the No. 3 line. UIW then pushed its lead to 2-0 after
Simona Maksimovic fell in straight sets at No. 1 singles.
Carla Bouygues put Nicholls on the board by winning both of her sets at No. 5, 6-2. The Cardinals answered to take a 3-1 lead as Gargi Pawar defeated Safarova in two sets. But the Colonels won the final three matches for their third consecutive win over UIW (7-10, 1-4 SLC).
UP NEXT
Nicholls will head to Corpus Christi on Sunday for an 11 a.m. matchup against the Islanders. The Colonels have lost 12 straight matches in the series with the last win coming in 2008.
