LAKE CHARLES – It was too close for comfort at the Nancy Hank Tennis Center on Friday afternoon as a showdown between the McNeese women's tennis team and ULM came down to the wire with junior Anastasija Trubich's clutch singles win was enough to defeat ULM 4-3 and score the Cowgirls' first home win of the season.
 
With the match tied at three points per team and with all eyes on Court Six, Trubich took the first set with a 6-3 decision. Looking to score the first home win for the Cowgirls, Trubich gave everything she had and fought through a tough second set to defeat Kull 7-6 and score her first singles win on the season.
 
"It was great to finally be able to play at home," said head coach Helena Besovic. "We were looking forward to this all week long and our hard work in practice paid off today on the court. ULM competed hard and showed that they were a tough team to beat. This gives us confidence going into next week's matches. We showed today that we trust in our abilities when it comes down to playing close matches."
 
The victory was the first for McNeese (2-4) at home this season after spending nearly two months on the road. The loss was the third straight for ULM (4-3) who dropped its last two matches to Southland Conference members Nicholls and Stephen F. Austin.
 
The day started out well for the Cowgirls, as they took the doubles point from the Warhawks. First off the court was the team of Klaudia Gawlik and Trubich, as they easily defeated ULM's team of Amy Olivier and Beata Kull 8-3 at the No. 1 spot. The No. 3 position was also a comfortable victory for McNeese, as Sarah Jurakova and Vivien Borbely took down the combo of Letha Gaigher and Jana Duhanova, clinching the doubles point for McNeese. The battle on Court Two went unfinished.
 
The Cowgirls took a three point lead following singles victories from sophomore Julia Kral on Court Two with a 6-1, 6-2 win over Sophie Rufyikiri and a dominating performance by junior Klaudia Gawlik who defeated Amy Oliivier 6-1, 6-3 in the No. 1 spot.
 
With the win, Kral improved her singles record to a team-best 4-1 overall mark. Gawlik improved her record to 2-1 on the season.
 
ULM bounced back quickly to take the next three singles matches and tie the match up 3-3. Gaigher def. Borbely 6-4, 6-3 in the fifth position while Hannah Brett fell to Petra Horakova in the third position 6-2, 7-5. The match was tied after Duhanova took down Jurakova in a three-set match 2-6, 7-6, 6-2.
 
Next up, the Cowgirls will travel east on I-10 to take on in-state foe Louisiana-Lafayette on Wednesday, March 4. First serve is slated for a 2 o'clock start.
 
McNeese State 4, ULM 3
Feb 27, 2015 – Lake Charles, La.
 
Doubles
1. Klaudia Gawlik/Anastasija Trubich (MCN) def. Amy Olivier/Beata Kull (ULM) 8-3
2. Julia Kral/Hannah Brett (MCN) vs. Petra Horakova/Sophie Rufyikiri (ULM) unfinished
3. Sarah Jurakova/Vivien Borbely (MCN) def. Letha Gaigher/Jana Duhanova (ULM) 8-4
 
Singles
1. Klaudia Gawlik (MCN) def. Amy Olivier (ULM) 6-1, 6-3
2. Julia Kral (MCN) def. Sophie Rufyikiri (ULM) 6-1, 6-2
3. Petra Horakova (ULM) def. Hannah Brett (MCN) 6-2, 7-5
4. Jana Duhanova (ULM) def. Sarah Jurakova (MCN) 2-6, 7-6, 6-2
5. Letha Gaigher (ULM) def. Vivien Borbely (MCN) 6-4, 6-3
6. Anastasija Trubich (MCN) def. Beata Kull (ULM) 6-3, 7-6
 
Records: McNeese (2-4); ULM (4-3)
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3); Singles (2,1,5,3,4,6)