THIBODAUX, La. - The Nicholls State University women's tennis team will open up play in the Southland Conference Tournament against No. 6 seed McNeese with first serve set for 2 p.m. on Tuesday, April 22 at the Thibodaux Regional Sports Complex. 

The Colonels finished the regular season with an 8-13 overall record and 1-8 in the Southland, being placed as the No. 11 seed in the bracket. The winner of Tuesday's match will advance to play No. 3 Northwestern State.

Nicholls and McNeese squared off in Lake Charles on April 4 with the Cowgirls coming away with a 6-1 victory. The lone Colonel point was courtesy of Paulina Villegas who secured a straight-set win at No. 2 singles. She also teamed up with Aada Inna for a victory in doubles but McNeese won the other two matches to claim the doubles point.

Villegas led the Colonels in singles play for the season, going 12-6 with all over her matches being played at No. 2. She won four times in league play while Constanza Cruz also had four victories as she finished 4-3 on the season.

Cruz and Sophia Sara Safarova had the best showing in doubles in conference play, racking up a 4-2 record while going 8-5 overall. The duo put together a five-match winning streak, however, it was ended in the loss to McNeese in a 6-1 defeat. 

The Cowgirls (18-6, 5-4 SLC) are led by freshman Salome Fluri, who went 9-0 in the SLC and was 21-2 on the season. One of the wins came in the victory against the Colonels as she won in straight sets on the top line.