LAKE CHARLES  - The McNeese State women's tennis team made history Friday afternoon as the No. 4 seeded Cowgirls scored a 4-1 victory over fifth-seeded Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in the quarterfinals of the 2015 Southland Conference Tournament and for the first time in program history have advanced to the semifinal round for a second consecutive season.

McNeese had only reached the semifinals of the conference once in program history but never in back-to-back seasons. The Cowgirls now have three straight appearances for the first time in 10 years and have reached the final four of the SLC Tournament in back-to-back seasons. In the last two seasons, McNeese has recorded 29 victories which is more than the previous five seasons combined.

The Cowgirls (13-7) will have a tough task ahead of them, as they take on first-seeded Nicholls on Saturday in the semifinal round of the tournament with first serve scheduled for an 11 a.m. start. Nicholls took a 6-1 decision from McNeese earlier in the year.
  
"I am very proud of our focus and determination today," said head coach Helena Besovic. "We played a great match against a very good AMCC team."

The Cowgirls jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the match after clinching the doubles points with wins at the No. 2 and No. 3 doubles positions. The team of Sarah Jurakova and Vivien Borbely scored an 8-4 win over AMCC's Maider Martin and Venesa Figueroa before the combo of Julia Kral and Hannah Brett sealed the doubles portion of the match with an 8-4 victory over Jelena Dzinic and Chelsea Horan.
 
McNeese extended its lead to a 2-0 scored during singles action as the Cowgirls' Sarah Jurakova topped all-conference selection Maider Martin on Court Four in a 6-4, 6-0 decision. The Islanders cut into the lead as Kerry Galhos took down Anastasija Trubich in the sixth position with a 6-4, 6-1 win.
 
The match came down to the top two singles spots and the Cowgirls did not disappoint as Julia Kral took down Judit Vives in three sets 6-3, 1-6, 6-1 while first-team all-league selection Klaudia Gawlik scored the match point in the No. 1 spot with a 6-3, 1-6, 7-5 victory over Jelena Dzinic.
 
Admission is free to all matches of the 2015 Southland Conference Women's Tennis Tournament, for more information regarding results, records and more please visit Southland.org.
 
McNeese 4, Texas A&M - Corpus Christi 1
Apr 24, 2015 at Beaumont, Texas (Beaumont Municipal Tennis Center)
 
Singles competition
1. Klaudia Gawlik (MCN) def. Jelena Dzinic (AMCC) 6-3, 1-6, 7-5
2. Julia Kral (MCN) def. Judit Vives (AMCC) 6-3, 1-6, 6-1
3. Hannah Brett (MCN) vs. Celia Rodriguez (AMCC) 1-6, 6-3, 4-5, unfinished
4. Sarah Jurakova (MCN) def. Maider Martin (AMCC) 6-4, 6-0
5. Vivien Borbely (MCN) vs. Chelsea Horan (AMCC) 6-7, 6-3, 1-3, unfinished
6. Kerry Galhos (AMCC) def. Anastasija Trubich (MCN) 6-4, 6-1
 
Doubles competition
1. Klaudia Gawlik/Anastasija Trubich (MCN) vs. Judit Vives/Celia Rodriguez (AMCC) 4-6, unfinished
2. Julia Kral/Hannah Brett (MCN) def. Jelena Dzinic/Chelsea Horan (AMCC) 8-4
3. Sarah Jurakova/Vivien Borbely (MCN) def. Maider Martin/Venesa Figueroa (AMCC) 8-4
 
Match Notes
Texas A&M - Corpus Christi 13-9
McNeese 13-7
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2); Singles (4,6,2,1)
Match two of Southland Conference Tournament
McNeese State - 4 seed
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi - 5 seed
McNeese State Advances to SLC Semifinals