LAKE CHARLES – Many teams could not overcome a late evening start in the middle of a cold front or the loss of one of its top players due to an illness but the McNeese women's tennis squad found itself on the winning side of the results sheet with a 5-1 victory over rival UL-Lafayette Wednesday evening.
 
The Cowgirls (3-1) picked up their third consecutive victory despite a late start in the middle of one of the coldest fronts of the winter season and the loss of its No. 2 singles player, Julia Kral, due to an illness. McNeese's home opening win was also handed the Ragin Cajuns (2-1) their first loss of the season.
 
Senior Klaudia Gawlik began in dominating fashion by defeating ULL's Kelly Drew 6-3, 6-1 in the No. 1 spot. Gawlik is now tied for fourth all-time in singles victories with 54.
 
Sarah Jurakova secured her 13th consecutive singles win with a 6-2, 6-4 decision over Melissa Burckhart on Court 4 while freshman Giovanna Fioretti stepped up on Court Two in a 7-5, 6-3 victory over Elena Sava. Jurakova remains the only undefeated Cowgirl in singles with a 4-0 mark.
 
Freshman Charoline Erlanddson made her season debut and contributed from the No. 6 spot as she clinched the match point. She took a 6-2, 7-6 victory over the Cajuns' Alexandra Way. Vivien Borbely rounded out the team victory with a 6-4, 6-4 decision in the fifth position.
 
McNeese will hit the road once again with two matches in Dallas, Texas over the weekend. The Cowgirls will face off against SMU followed by a neutral site bout with Middle Tennessee the next morning.
 
McNeese State 5, UL-Lafayette 1
Jan 27, 2016 at Lake Charles, La. (Nancy Hank Tennis Center)
 
Singles competition
1. Klaudia Gawlik (MCN) def. Drew, Kelly (ULL) 6-3, 6-1
2. Giovanna Fioretti (MCN) def. Sava, Elena (ULL) 7-5, 6-3
3. Johnson, Abby (ULL) def. Hannah Brett (MCN) 6-4, 6-4
4. Sarah Jurakova (MCN) def. Burckhartt, Melissa (ULL) 6-2, 6-4
5. Vivien Borbely (MCN) def. Clement, Juliette (ULL) 6-4, 6-4
6. Charoline Erlandsson (MCN) def. Way, Alexandra (ULL) 6-2, 7-6
 
Match Notes
UL-Lafayette 2-1
McNeese State 3-1
Order of finish: Singles (1,4,2,3,6,5)