LAKE CHARLES – McNeese Cowgirl tennis picked up its first win of the season on Sunday, beating Incarnate Word by a 6-1 score and capping off a 1-1 weekend in Southland Conference action. 

The Cowgirls (1-8, 1-1 SLC) won the doubles point when Natalia Ballo and Sofia San Jose Moreno picked up a 7-5 win in the No. 2 doubles. Hanna Blinouskaya and Yukina Abe won the No. 3 group by default and giving the Cowgirls the doubles point. 

The only point UIW picked up came in the No. 1 singles when San Jose Moreno had to retire in the first set after battling an injury. 

"I'm very happy with the effort and energy by the girls today," said head coach Giorgia Pozzan. "I think it was a continuation from Friday's match. Even though we lost 7-0, it was a really close match and I think that energy continued over to today. 

"Sofia had to pull out of her singles match because of an injury but she battled through it and still played in the doubles. I didn't want to aggravate the injury so I pulled her out and knew our team would step up, and they did. 

"It's great to finally get a win, a conference win. It was very solid. I'm extremely happy with the team effort today." 

Carlotta Romito got a 6-3, 6-2 win in the No. 2 singles while Ballo won 6-2, 6-1 in the No. 4 and Blinouskaya cruised to a 6-1, 6-0 win at the No. 5 slot. 

Matilde Mulatero won her singles match after her opponent retired after the first set and Abe won her match by default. 

The Cowgirls will look to build on the win when they visit Lamar on March 5.