The McNeese women's tennis team relied on its youth as well as its veterans as the Cowgirls upended a previously unbeaten Southern Mississippi squad 4-3 on Saturday at the USM Tennis Courts.
 
The victory was sweet for both the Cowgirls and first year head coach Helena Besovic who clinched her first Division I win as a McNeese coach.
 
"Today was a great match for us," said head coach Helena Besovic. "We stayed focused the entire time, fought hard on all courts and really came together as a team. Southern Miss was a tough team to beat, especially on their home court but we showed how mentally strong we are."
 
Senior Klaudia Gawlik picked up her first singles victory of the season that proved to be essential in the Cowgirls' win over USM while freshman Hannah Brett's singles win helped to secure the match for McNeese. Sophomore Julia Kral improved to 3-1 in singles action on the season as she scored the match-winning point.
 
McNeese secured the early point with wins at the No. 2 and No. 3 doubles positions. Vivien Borbely and Andreea Nenu took a 6-2 decision in the No. 3 spot over Karina Gurgenyan and Elena Roca before the team of Brett and Kral clinched the point with a 6-4 victory over Claudia Castella and Lisa Schneider in the No. 2 position.
 
In singles action, Southern Miss tied the match up with a 6-1, 6-3 decision on Court 4 as USM's Alex Kitchen defeated Borbely. Gawlik responded for the Cowgirls in the No. 1 position defeating Lisa Schneider 6-3, 6-1. The lead switched back to the Golden Eagles after Elena Roca defeated Nenu 6-1, 6-2 in the sixth position.
 
The match was set for a dramatic finish with the final three positions closely moving to three sets. The Cowgirls gained the advantage early as Brett took a 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 from Castella on Court 3 while Kral secured the match on Court 6 as she took down Carolin Drescher 1-6, 6-2, 6-4. USM gained the final point with a Gurgenyan victory over Trubich in the fifth spot 6-4, 5-6, 10-7.
 
McNeese will complete its six-match road swing with a match at Tulane on Sunday beginning at 9 a.m. The Cowgirls will then return home for three-straight matches beginning with UTA on Friday, Feb. 20 at 2 p.m.
 
McNeese 4, Southern Miss 3
Feb 7, 2015 – Hattiesburg, Miss
 
Doubles
1. Caroline Drescher/Alex Kitchen (SMU) def. Klaudia Gawlik/Anastasija Trubich (MCN) 6-1
2. Hannah Brett/Julia Kral (MCN) def. Clausia Castella/Lisa Schneider (SMU) 6-4
3. Vivien Borbely/Andreea Nenu (MCN) def. Karina Gurgenyan/Elena Roca (SMU) 6-2
 
Singles
1. Klaudia Gawlik (MCN) def. Lisa Schneider (SMU) 6-3, 6-1
2. Julia Kral (MCN) def. Carolin Drescher (SMU) 1-6, 6-2, 6-4
3. Hannah Brett (MCN) def. Claudia Castella (SMU) 4-6, 6-4, 6-2
4. Alex Kitchen (SMU) def. Vivien Borbely (MCN) 6-1, 6-3
5. Karina Gurgenyan (SMU) def. Anastasija Trubich (MCN) 4-6, 6-4, 10-7
6. Elena Rocca (SMU) def. Andreea Nenu (MCN) 6-1, 6-2
 
Records: McNeese (1-3); Southern Miss (4-1)
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (4,1,6,3,2,5)