LAKE CHARLES – McNeese had a rough outing on Friday afternoon against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in Southland Conference women's tennis action as it dropped the first of five straight home matches by a 6-1 score.
 
The lone point came in the final singles match to complete when Sofia San Jose Moreno defeated Kei Kato 6-4, 3-6, 10-7.
 
"Today was tough," said head coach Giorgia Pozzan. "We started slow and flat. They took it to us in the doubles. Again, the situation we're in with doubles being down a point with only five players, it the same ol, same ol. But we did a better job in the singles in the first sets especially with Sofia at the three and Mati at the four."
 
McNeese (2-9-1, 1-2) lost the doubles point 6-1, 4-1 after beginning the match down a point due to being a player short. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi improved to 12-3 overall and 2-1 in league play.
 
San Jose Moreno won an excited No. 3 singles by taking the deciding point 10-7. That came after Matilde Mulatero put up a tough fight at No. 4 before falling 6-4, 6-0 to Victoire Delattre. In the No. 5, Hanna Blinouskaya dropped a 6-3, 6-2 decision to Emma Honore while both Marija Mastilovic (No. 1) and Carlotta Romito (No. 2) dropped their matches by scores of 6-2, 6-2.
 
"I did see some good things so hopefully we'll build on them for Sunday," said Pozzan. "Lamar will definitely bring it. They're always feisty. We have a good rivalry with them."
 
Pozzan stressed how critical it is to win the doubles point with just five players.
 
"It's huge. For us it would be such a propeller. It happened at Incarnate (Word) and we got close at ACU. Even when it's close I think it still helps us but today, unfortunately it wasn't close."
 
McNeese will host Lamar in the Battle of the Border on Sunday beginning at 11 a.m. at the Nancy Hank Tennis Center.
 
Tennis Match Results
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi vs McNeese
Mar 06, 2020 at Lake Charles, La
(Nancy Hank Tennis Center)
 
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 6, McNeese 1
Singles competition
1. Mariya Shumeika (AMCC) def. Marija Mastilovic (MCN) 6-2, 6-2
2. Camille Townsend (AMCC) def. Carlotta Romito (MCN) 6-2, 6-2
3. Sofia San Jose Moren (MCN) def. Kei Kato (AMCC) 6-4, 3-6, 10-7
4. Victoire Delattre (AMCC) def. Matilde Mulatero (MCN) 6-4, 6-0
5. Emma Honore (AMCC) def. Hanna Blinouskaya (MCN) 6-3, 6-2
6. Maria Maldonado (AMCC) def. No player (MCN), by default
 
Doubles competition
1. Kei Kato/Emma Honore (AMCC) def. Matilde Mulatero/Sofia San Jose Moren (MCN) 6-1
2. Camille Townsend/Mariya Shumeika (AMCC) def. Carlotta Romito/Marija Mastilovic (MCN) 4-1
3. Jordan Ortega-Mendez/Maria Maldonado (AMCC) def. No player/No player (MCN), by default
 
Match Notes:
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 12-3 (2-1)
McNeese 2-9-1 (1-2)