HAMMOND – The McNeese women's tennis team took one step closer to locking up one of the top two seeds for the Southland Conference Tournament Saturday afternoon as the Cowgirls rallied back from an early deficit and took down a salty Southeastern Louisiana team, 5-2, at the SLU Tennis Complex in Hammond.
 
With only one match left in the regular season Sunday, a McNeese (14-7, 7-3 SLC) victory over New Orleans would clinch the No. 2 seed in the postseason league tournament. The Pokes face a tough task as they enter the home court of the Privateers, who have not lost at home this season, Sunday morning at 11 a.m.
 
The Cowgirls' win over Southeastern Louisiana dropped the Lady Lions to 13-8 on the year and 5-5 in SLC action.
 
SLU took control of the match early by clinching the doubles point over McNeese. Seniors Klaudia Gawlik and Anastasija Trubich picked up the only win in combo action with a 6-3 victory over the team of Natalie Duran and Madina Vorontnikova.
 
The Lady Lions extended their lead to 2-0 with a win in the top spot. Renee Villarreal defeated Gawlik 6-0, 6-2 to help give her team the early advantage.
 
With Gawlik inserted back into the lineup, the Cowgirls resumed their normal positions on the court in singles play. Charoline Errlandsson took down Lucia Bustamante 6-0, 6-3 to cut into the SLU lead while Giovanna Fioretti won in the second spot 6-4, 6-3 over Dalina Dahlmans to tie the match.
 
Vivien Borbely helped McNeese take over the lead with a 6-3, 6-3 win in the No. 6 spot. The singles match was the first for Borbely since March 6.
 
It was the racquet of Trubich that once again clinched the match for the Cowgirls. In just her seventh contest of the season, Trubich defeated SLU's Ceci Mercier 6-3, 6-1 to remain undefeated on the year and 6-0 in SLC play.
 
The story of the day came from court three as junior Julia Kral overcame a six-match drought and took down Dany Raygadas in three sets 3-6, 7-6, 10-2 to help McNeese complete the win over Southeastern Louisiana.
 
Following its match with UNO on Sunday, the McNeese women's tennis team will prepare for the SLC Tournament set for April 22-24 in Nacogdoches, Texas.
 
McNeese State 5, Southeastern Louisiana 2
Apr 09, 2016 at Hammond, La. (SLU Tennis Complex)
 
Singles competition
1. Renee Villarreal (SLU) def. Klaudia Gawlik (MCN) 6-0, 6-2
2. Giovanna Fioretti (MCN) def. Dalina Dahlmans (SLU) 6-4, 6-3
3. Julia Kral (MCN) def. Dany Raygadas (SLU) 3-6, 7-6, 10-2
4. Anastasija Trubich (MCN) def. Ceci Mercier (SLU) 6-3, 6-1
5. Charoline Erlandsson (MCN) def. Lucia Bustamante (SLU) 6-0, 6-3
6. Vivien Borbely (MCN) def. Madina Vorotnikova (SLU) 6-3, 6-3
 
Doubles competition
1. Dalina Dahlmans/Renee Villarreal (SLU) def. Vivien Borbely/Giovanna Fioretti (MCN) 6-4
2. Margaux Kaltenbacher/Dany Raygadas (SLU) def. Julia Kral/Charoline Erlandsson (MCN) 6-1
3. Klaudia Gawlik/Anastasija Trubich (MCN) def. Natalie Duran/Madina Vorotnikova (SLU) 6-3
 
Match Notes
McNeese State 14-7, 7-3 SLC
Southeastern Louisiana 13-8, 5-5 SLC