LAKE CHARLES – The McNeese women's tennis team fought tough but eventually dropped its season opening match to Tulane, 4-1, Wednesday afternoon in New Orleans.
 
The Cowgirls (0-1) did not come away with the result they were hoping for but gained a great amount of confidence and strength as they continue their non-conference schedule in the coming weeks.
 
"We played a tough match today but I'm really proud of effort and energy on the court," said head coach Helena Besovic. "I am looking forward to this weekend."
 
The Green Wave (1-0) started off with a one-point advantage after taking down the Cowgirls in doubles action. The team of Hannah Brett and Charoline Erlandsson were defeated, 6-3, in the No. 2 spot while Vivien Borbely and Stella Carra lost in the third spot, 6-3.
 
In singles action, Tulane upped its lead in the fourth position before Brett scored McNeese's only point in the match as she took down Sade Atkinson, 6-4, 6-3, in the third spot. The win extended Brett's winning streak in singles play to 16 consecutive matches dating back to last season.
 
The match was decided after Tulane scored a pair of wins on Courts 1 and 5 as Giovanna Fioretti dropped her match, 7-5, 6-0 and Borbely was defeated in a close bout, 6-3, 6-4.
 
The Cowgirls will travel to Waco, Texas this weekend for a pair of matches as they face UT-Rio Grande Valley in a neutral site match Saturday before capping off the weekend against Baylor Sunday.
 
Tulane 4, McNeese 1
Jan 18, 2017 at New Orleans (City Park Pepsi Tennis Center)
 
Singles competition
1. Naz Karagoz (TLN) def. Giovanna Fioretti (MCN) 7-5, 6-0
2. Kyla Klier (TLN) vs. Sarah Jurakova (MCN) 6-3, 5-2, unfinished
3. Hannah Brett (MCN) def. Sade Atkinson (TLN) 6-4, 6-4
4. Elena Muller (TLN) def. Charoline Erlandsson (MCN) 6-0, 6-1
5. Christina Sisti (TLN) def. Vivien Borbely (MCN) 6-3, 6-4
6. Sofia Kurtz (TLN) vs. Stella Carra (MCN) 7-6 (7-3), 3-2, unfinished
 
Doubles competition
1. Elena Muller/Naz Karagoz (TLN) vs. Sarah Jurakova/Giovanna Fioretti (MCN) 4-5, unfinished
2. Sade Atkinson/Sofia Kurtz (TLN) def. Hannah Brett/Charoline Erlandsson (MCN) 6-3
3. Kyla Klier/Christina Sisti (TLN) def. Stella Carra/Vivien Borbely (MCN) 6-3
 
Match Notes
McNeese 0-1
Tulane 1-0
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3); Singles (4,3,1,5)