LAKE CHARLES – McNeese opened up its home slate on Tuesday afternoon at the Nancy Hank Tennis Center and dropped a 4-0 decision to unbeaten ULL.
 
Playing with just five players, like they have all season, the Cowgirls (1-7) put up some good battles before the Ragin Cajuns (8-0) captured the fourth and deciding point in the No. 3 singles match.
 
"It's definitely hard because when you start you're down a point," said head coach Giorgia Pozzan about playing an athlete down. "We've kind of shifted the goals for the season so we're going to focus on working on specific things, regardless of four players, six players, everybody's going to work on returns or the serve, and then we just go and play.
 
"It's tough because they're competitive and want to win, but if we think of the score and being one player down, it's tough."
 
Hanna Blinouskaya, playing in the No. 5 singles match, had a chance to win her match before it was halted. She was leading ULL's Dana Radovanovic 6-3, 3-5 before play was stopped.
 
In the No. 1 singles, Marija Mastilovic held her own against Floriane Picaut, losing the first set 7-5 and trailed just 4-2 in the second before halting.
 
"I think today was definitely better. It's tough with the scheduling we have because we played Baylor and A&M, SMU, it's difficult to compete when you have five, especially against teams like that.
 
"This is the first time we actually had someone that we could compete. I'm definitely happy with how we competed. We still need to get better but we have another opportunity on Saturday."
 
The Cowgirls will return to the court Saturday at 2 when they host ULM.
 
Louisiana 4, McNeese 0
Feb 18, 2020 at Lake Charles, La. (Nancy Hank Tennis Center)

Singles competition

1. Marija Mastilovic (MCN) vs. Picaut, Floriane (LA) 5-7, 2-4, unfinished

2. Carlotta Romito (MCN) vs. Perez, Mariona (LA) 1-6, 2-3, unfinished

3. Raquin, Lucie (LA) def. Sofia San Jose Moren (MCN) 6-1, 6-2

4. Mantaux, Clara (LA) def. Matilde Mulatero (MCN) 6-3, 6-0

5. Hanna Blinouskaya (MCN) vs. Radovanovic, Dana (LA) 6-3, 3-5, unfinished

6. Garcia, Marina (LA) def. No player (MCN), by forfeit

 

Doubles competition

1. Picaut, Floriane/Radovanovic, Dana (LA) def. Carlotta Romito/Marija Mastilovic (MCN) 6-0

2. Perez, Mariona/Mantaux, Clara (LA) def. Matilde Mulatero/Sofia San Jose Moren (MCN) 6-2

3. Garcia, Marina/Raquin, Lucie (LA) def. No player/No player (MCN), by forfeit

 

Match Notes

Louisiana 8-0

McNeese 1-7

Order of finish: Doubles (1,2); Singles (4,3)

Official: Mike Baird T-1:50 A-75