LAKE CHARLES – It was one of the most highly touted matches on the Southland Conference slate and it lived up to the hype as the McNeese women's tennis team and undefeated Texas A&M-Corpus Christi faced off in one of the toughest and intense matches that eventually found the Islanders slip by with a 4-3 win over the Cowgirls at the Nancy Hank Tennis Center on Tuesday.
 
Despite the loss, McNeese (12-5, 5-1 SLC) remains one of the top squads in the league and is tied for second place with Southeastern Louisiana. The Cowgirls are the only team this season to have taken A&M-Corpus Christi (13-0, 4-0 SLC) down to the wire as the Islanders defeated all their previous opponents by two points or more.
 
"Today was a tough loss for our team," said McNeese head coach Helena Besovic. "We knew A&M-Corpus Christi was going to leave it all on the court and make this a real battle. We will take today's contest as a learning lesson that will only make us stronger for our upcoming matches."
 
McNeese would have to dig out of an early deficit following doubles play as the Islanders took victories on Courts Three and Two to clinch the first point of the contest. The team of Sarah Jurakova and Giovanna Fioretti were leading 6-5 in the No. 1 spot but were unable to finish due to the doubles point having been clinched.
 
In singles action, A&M-Corpus Christi extended its lead to a 2-0 score as Maider Martin defeated Charoline Erlandsson 6-2, 6-1 from the fifth spot but the Cowgirls refused to go down without a fight.
 
Senior Anastasija Trubich, who has yet to be defeated in singles action this year, started the McNeese rally as she took a win on Court Six over Kerry Galhos 6-1, 6-2 to cut into the lead.
 
Hannah Brett tied up the match as she recorded an impressive win from the No. 4 spot over AMCC's Celia Rodriguez, who entered the match undefeated in singles play. Brett's singles victory is her 10^th consecutive on the year while her 14-3 remains the best on the Cowgirl squad.
 
AMCC regained the lead as Jelena Dzinic escaped her match with Julia Kral on Court Two with a 6-4, 7-6 victory over the junior Cowgirl netter.
 
The match came down to a pair of battles on Courts One and Three with both contests going to three sets.
 
In the No. 1 spot, Giovanna Fioretti performed at the highest level but was outlasted by Hortense Boscher 6-4, 6-7, 6-2, who helped AMCC clinch the match point.
 
However, it was Jurakova who put the stamp on the match and how tough the Cowgirls remained throughout as she defeated Judit Vives in position three 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 to close out the match and gave the Islanders their closest match so far this season.
 
The Cowgirls will hit the road for a Southland Conference matchup at Abilene Christian on Friday, March 25 at 10 a.m. before coming home to face off against Stephen F. Austin and Northwestern State next weekend. 
 
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 4, McNeese State 3
Mar 22, 2016 at Lake Charles, La. (Nancy Hank Tennis Center)
 
Singles competition
1. Hortense Boscher (AMCC) def. Giovanna Fioretti (MCN) 6-4, 6-7, 6-2
2. Jelena Dzinic (AMCC) def. Julia Kral (MCN) 6-4, 7-6
3. Sarah Jurakova (MCN) def. Judit Vives (AMCC) 6-4, 3-6, 7-6
4. Hannah Brett (MCN) def. Celia Rodriguez (AMCC) 6-2, 6-3
5. Maider Martin (AMCC) def. Charoline Erlandsson (MCN) 6-2, 6-1
6. Anastasija Trubich (MCN) def. Kerry Galhos (AMCC) 6-2, 6-1
 
Doubles competition
1. Sarah Jurakova/Giovanna Fioretti (MCN) vs. Jelena Dzinic/Judit Vives (AMCC) unfinished
2. Celia Rodriguez/Maider Martin (AMCC) def. Charoline Erlandsson/Julia Kral (MCN) 7-6
3. Hortense Boscher/Alexandra Belle (AMCC) def. Hannah Brett/Vivien Borbely (MCN) 6-0
 
Match Notes
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 13-0, 4-0 SLC
McNeese State 12-5, 5-1 SLC
Order of Finish: Doubles (3,2); Singles (5,6,4,2,1,3)