NACOGDOCHES, Texas – Although it fought until the very end, the McNeese women's tennis team was unable to fight off one of the toughest teams in the nation Saturday afternoon as the Cowgirls were edged by undefeated A&M-Corpus Christi, 4-3, in the semi-final round of the Southland Conference Tournament.
 
The Cowgirls completed the season with a 15-9 overall record, having won 15 or more matches for only the seventh time in school history. McNeese also bided a final farewell to a couple of seniors, Klaudia Gawlik and Anastasija Trubich, who gave their all and helped add to the tradition of the Cowgirl Tennis.
 
Gawlik her career as a McNeese netter after having won 60 singles matches as a Cowgirl. The mark stands as the second most in McNeese tennis history while her 39 wins in doubles play is good for ninth all-time. Gawlik was a two-time SLC Player of the Year as well as the league's Freshman of the Year. She was a three-time all-conference selection.
 
Trubich scored eight victories in 10 of her last singles matches this season that helped the Cowgirls maintain one of the top spots in the SLC race during the 2016 season and finished the season undefeated in league play. She finished her two-year career with 14 singles wins and 12 doubles wins as she was named All-SLC last season for her play in doubles.
 
The Islanders (23-0) picked up an early lead by securing the doubles points after taking wins on courts two and three. However, AMCC would be surprised at how fast that lead would dwindle as the Cowgirls scored victories in the first three singles matches to take a 3-1 lead in the overall match.
 
Sophomore Sarah Jurakova started the rally as she took down Judit Vives 6-0, 6-1 in the No. 3 spot before Hannah Brett gave the Cowgirls the lead with a 6-3, 6-1 win on court five against Maider Martin. Brett finished the year with a team-best 19-3 mark along with 14 consecutive singles matches won.
 
Julia Kral gave the Cowgirls the edge they needed as her 6-0, 6-4 win from the fourth spot put McNeese in prime position to win the match.

But like it has done before, AMCC was able to dig out of the deficit and score wins in the next three spots to help climb its way back for the deciding point.
 
The Islanders took wins in courts six and two tie up the match before Hortense Boscher downed Gawlik 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 in the top spot in order to claim the match point.
 
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 4, McNeese State 3
Apr 23, 2016 at Nacogdoches, Texas (Schlief Tennis Complex)
 
Singles competition
1. Hortense Boscher (AMCC) def. Klaudia Gawlik (MCN) 2-6, 6-3, 6-3
2. Jelena Dzinic (AMCC) def. Giovanna Fioretti (MCN) 6-3, 6-4
3. Sarah Jurakova (MCN) def. Judit Vives (AMCC) 6-0, 6-1
4. Julia Kral (MCN) def. Celia Rodriguez (AMCC) 6-0, 6-4
5. Hannah Brett (MCN) def. Maider Martin (AMCC) 6-3, 6-1
6. Kerry Galhos (AMCC) def. Anastasija Trubich (MCN) 6-3, 6-3
 
Doubles competition
1. Judit Vives/Jelena Dzinic (AMCC) vs. Sarah Jurakova/Giovanna Fioretti (MCN) 4-2, unfinished
2. Celia Rodriguez/Maider Martin (AMCC) def. Klaudia Gawlik/Julia Kral (MCN) 6-1
3. Hortense Boscher/Alexandra Belle (AMCC) def. Hannah Brett/Charoline Erlandsson (MCN) 6-3
 
Match Notes
McNeese State 15-9
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 23-0
2016 Southland Conference Women's Tennis Tournament Semifinals
#1 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi vs. #4 McNeese State
Order of Finish: Doubles (2, 3, uf) | Singles (3, 5, 4, 6, 2, 1)
Official: Don Brandy T-2:35 A-86