Box Score LAKE CHARLES – The McNeese women's tennis team defeated Southland Conference foe Sam Houston State 5-2 on Sunday.

The Cowgirls (13-3, 8-1 SLC) share the number one conference ranking with Northwestern State and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi with only two matches remaining.

The Bearkats (10-5, 5-3 SLC) are now tied for fourth place and are still looking to clinch a berth in the Southland Conference tournament.

Starting the day for the Cowgirls in the number three doubles spot Charoline Erlandsson and Phonexay Chitdara defeated Sahaja Yamalapalli and Roos Gerritsen 6-1 to take and early lead for the doubles point.

Finishing second in the number two spot Giovanna Fioretti and Marija Mastilovic would fall to their Bearkat counterparts Fabienne Gettwart and Khee Yen Wee 6-2.

Cowgirls Sarah Jurakova and Hannah Brett found themselves in familiar water playing in the deciding doubles match of the day. The Cowgirl duo defeated SHSU's Carrie Casey and Mila Milanovic 7-6 (7-4) to give the Cowgirls their first point of the day.

In singles competition Chitdara would be the first to finish in the number six position. She would claim McNeese its second point as she defeated Milanovic in straight sets 6-1, 6-2.

Lusine Chobanyan would get the Bearkats their first point of the day as she defeated Erlandsson in consecutive sets 6-4, 6-1.

Jurakova would be the next Cowgirl to finish battling Yamalapalli in the number two spot. Jurakova would dominate her opponent in straight sets 6-4, 6-2 to give the Cowgirls a 3-1 lead.

McNeese's Brett fought hard in the number three position before falling to Wee 6-7, 4-6.

In the number one position Fioretti would go on to drop her first set 4-6 to the Bearkat's Gettwart. In the second and third sets Fioretti would defeat her opponent 6-4 in both sets. This victory secured the team victory for McNeese.

Last to finish were McNeese's Mastilovic and SHSU's Casey. The competitors would split the first two sets, each winning by a score of 6-3. In the final set Mastilovic came out on top winning in a 7-6 nailbiter.

"I'm very proud of our team effort today. We handled a close doubles point well and carried the momentum into the singles matches," said head coach Helena Besovic. "Also, I'm very thankful for all the people who came to watch us play today. This season the support from our community has been absolutely amazing."

The Cowgirls will close out Southland Conference play this week when they take on Lamar on Tuesday at 1 p.m. followed by a match with Nicholls on Saturday, both matches will be played at home.
 
Tennis Match Results
Sam Houston State vs McNeese
Apr 08, 2018 at Lake Charles, La
(Nancy Hank Tennis Center)
McNeese 5, Sam Houston State 2
 
Singles competition
1. Giovanna Fioretti (MCN) def. Fabienne Gettwart (SHSU) 4-6, 6-4, 6-4
2. Sarah Jurakova (MCN) def. Sahaja Yamalapalli (SHSU) 6-4, 6-2
3. Khee Yen Wee (SHSU) def. Hannah Brett (MCN) 7-6, 6-4
4. Marija Mastilovic (MCN) def. Carrie Casey (SHSU) 3-6, 6-3, 7-6
5. Lusine Chobanyan (SHSU) def. Charoline Erlandsson (MCN) 6-4, 6-1
6. Phonexay Chitdara (MCN) def. Mila Milanovic (SHSU) 6-1, 6-2
 
Doubles competition
1. Sarah Jurakova/Hannah Brett (MCN) def. Carrie Casey/Mila Milanovic (SHSU) 7-6 (7-4)
2. Fabienne Gettwart/Khee Yen Wee (SHSU) def. Giovanna Fioretti/Marija Mastilovic (MCN) 6-2
3. Charoline Erlandsson/Phonexay Chitdara (MCN) def. Sahaja Yamalapalli/Roos Gerritsen (SHSU) 6-1
 
Match Notes:
Sam Houston State 10-5, 5-3 SLC
McNeese 13-3, 8-1 SLC
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (6,5,2,3,1,4)