LAKE CHARLES – The McNeese women's tennis team dropped a tough Southland Conference road match Friday afternoon as the Cowgirls were defeated by Abilene Christian, 5-2, at the Eager Tennis Pavilion.
 
With the loss, McNeese dropped to 12-6 overall on the year and 5-2 in league play while ACU improved to 13-5 on the season and 3-1 in conference action.
 
The Wildcats gained the early advantage in doubles play with wins on courts two and three. The top duo of Giovanna Fioretti and Sarah Jurakova's were unable to finish their match due to the clinched point as they were in a 4-4 tie on court one.
 
ACU went up by two but the Cowgirls answered with two consecutive singles wins to tie up the match as sophomore Hannah Brett defeated Nada Marjanovic 6-4, 6-4 for her 11th consecutive win on the season. Anastasija Trubich provided the match-tying point in the sixth spot with a 7-5, 6-4 win over Jordan Henry.
 
ACU went up by one again as McNeese threatened to tie the match again as freshman Charoline Erlandsson led by one set until Whitney Williams answered with a 3-6, 7-5, 6-2 win to clinch the match for Abilene Christian.
 
The match finished with an Erin Walker 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (7-2) win over Giovanna Fioretti in the top spot.
 
McNeese will return home for a pair of matches next weekend beginning with Stephen F. Austin on Saturday and finishing with Northwestern State on Sunday. Both matches will start at 11 a.m.
 
Abilene Christian 5, McNeese State 2
Mar 24, 2016 at Abilene, Texas (Eager Tennis Pavilion)
 
Singles competition
1. Erin Walker (ACU) def. Giovanna Fioretti (MCN) 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (7-2)
2. Kaysie Hermsdorf (ACU) def. Julia Kral (MCN) 6-4, 7-6
3. Lucile Pothier (ACU) def. Sarah Jurakova (MCN) 6-0, 6-4
4. Hannah Brett (MCN) def. Nada Marjanovic (ACU) 6-4, 6-4
5. Whitney Williams (ACU) def. Charoline Erlandsson (MCN) 3-6, 7-5, 6-2
6. Anastasija Trubich (MCN) def. Jordan Henry (ACU) 7-5, 6-4
 
Doubles competition
1. Whitney Williams/Erin Walker (ACU) vs. Giovanna Fioretti/Sarah Jurakova (MCN) 4-4, unfinished
2. Kaysie Hermsdorf/Lucile Pothier (ACU) def. Julia Kral/Charoline Erlandsson (MCN) 6-1
3. Nada Marjanovic/Andrea Crook (ACU) def. Hannah Brett/Anastasija Trubich (MCN) 6-2
 
Match Notes
McNeese State 12-6 (5-2 SLC)
Abilene Christian 13-5 (3-1 SLC)
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3); Singles (3,4,2,5,1)
T-3:30