NACOGDOCHES, Texas – The McNeese State women's tennis team climbed out to an early lead Friday afternoon but could not hold on as Southland Conference leader Stephen F. Austin rallied for three-straight singles wins and took a 4-2 victory over the Cowgirls at the Schlief Tennis Complex.
The Cowgirls will travel to Natchitoches on Saturday to take on Northwestern State at 11 a.m. The match was regularly scheduled for Sunday but was moved due to a potential threat of inclement weather.
The loss dropped McNeese to 10-6 overall and 6-2 in conference action while also ending a three-match winning streak. The Ladyjacks improved to 13-5 and a conference best 7-1 mark.
"We played a close match against a very talented Stephen F. Austin squad today," said head coach
Helena Besovic. "We won the doubles point playing great but came up short in singles."
The Cowgirls gained the early advantage after clinching the first point of the match in doubles play. The team of
Klaudia Gawlik and
Anastasija Trubich defeated Malena Gordo and Dhanielly Quevedo in an 8-3 bout while the combo of
Sarah Jurakova and
Vivien Borbely clinched with a hard-fought 8-6 victory over Valeria Terentyeva and Vivienne Kulikce.
SFA tied the match up at one point apiece in singles following a 6-1, 6-1 win by Kulicke over McNeese's
Hannah Brett in the No. 3 Spot. The Cowgirls climbed back out to a 2-1 lead after
Julia Kral took a 6-3, 6-1 decision over Denise Maxl in the second position. The victory improved Kral to a team best 12-1 on the season and 6-1 in conference play.
However, the Ladyjacks managed a comeback and delivered wins during the next three games to clinch the final point over the Cowgirls.
McNeese's Borbely fell in the No. 4 spot to Quevedo 6-1, 7-6 (5) while Gawlik dropped a tough three-set 2-6, 6-1, 6-4 loss to Gordo on Court One.
Stephen F. Austin's Julia Lorca delivered the game-wining point in the sixth spot after defeating Trubich 7-6 (4), 6-1.
"I am proud of the team and our effort," said Besovic. "Playing these close matches is making us tougher and better. We are looking to bounce back against Northwestern State tomorrow."
Stephen F. Austin 4, McNeese State 2
Apr 10, 2015 at Nacogdoches, Texas
