BEAUMONT, Texas – The McNeese State women's tennis team took home its second straight Southland Conference victory on Sunday as the Cowgirls won a hard-fought battle against Lamar in a 4-3 affair in Beaumont at the Thompson Family Tennis Center.

With the victory, McNeese improved to 6-4 overall and 2-0 in conference action. The Cowgirls have now won five matches in a row. The Lady Cardinals fell to 3-8 on the year and 0-4 in league play.
"This was a successful weekend for us," said head coach Helena Besovic. "We beat two teams that put out everything on the court against us. Lamar came out strong today but we responded well and were able to successfully close the match. I am proud of our effort."

McNeese secured the first point of the match after taking two of three decisions in doubles play. The team of Sarah Jurakova and Vivien Borbely rattled off their fourth straight victory after taking down Hanna Elfving and Stephanie Marchena 8-3 on Court 3. The combo of Julia Kral and Hannah Brett clinched the point after scoring a 8-1 win over the team of Anna Spengler and Andrea Ivanovic.

In singles junior Klaudia Gawlik gave the Cowgirls a 2-0 lead after taking care of business on Court 1 with a 6-1, 6-3 win over Katya Lapayeva. Jurakova upped the lead with a 6-2, 6-1 defeat over Elfving in the fifth position.

Lamar cut into the lead in the next three results as Ivanovic scored a 6-3, 6-3 win over Brett in the third position while Borbely fell to Carolina Maso on Court 4 in a 6-2, 6-1 decision. On Court 6, Trubich fell to Marchena in a 6-1, 3-6, 6-4 decision to even the match up at 3-3.

The Cowgirls found a way to win as Kral defeated Spengler in three sets 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 and clinched the winning match point and led McNeese to the 4-3 victory and second straight conference win.

The Cowgirls will return home over the weekend and will resume conference play with a match against Nicholls on Thursday, March 19 at 2 p.m. followed by a contest with Central Arkansas on Saturday, March 21 at 11 a.m.

McNeese State 4, Lamar 3
Mar 15, 2015 – Beaumont, Texas
 
Doubles
1. Klaudia Gawlik/Anastasija Trubich (MCN) vs. Katya Lapayeva/Carolina Maso (UL) 6-5, unfinished
2. Julia Kral/Hannah Brett (MCN) def. Anna Spengler/Andrea Ivanovic (LU) 8-1
3. Sarah Jurakova/Vivien Borbely (MCN) def. Hanna Elfving/Stephanie Marchena (LU) 8-3
 
Singles
1. Klaudia Gawlik (MCN) def. Katya Lapayeva (LU) 6-1, 6-3
2. Julia Kral (MCN) def. Anna Spengler (LU) 6-2, 4-6, 6-3
3. Andrea Ivanovic (LU) def. Hannah Brett (MCN) 6-3, 6-3
4. Carolina Maso (LU) def. Vivien Borbely (MCN) 6-2, 6-2
5. Sarah Jurakova (MCN) def. Hannah Elfving (LU) 6-2, 6-1
6. Stephanie Marchena (LU) def. Anastasija Trubich (MCN) 6-1, 3-6, 6-4
 
Records: McNeese (6-4, 2-0 SLC); Sam Houston State (3-8, 0-4 SLC)