ABILENE - The defending Southland Conference tournament champions from Northwestern State outlasted the Abilene Christian women's tennis team, 4-3, on the outdoor courts of the Eager Tennis Pavilion Friday.
The loss dropped ACU to 11-3 (3-1 SLC), and in the process snapped a season-best seven-match winning streak. The Wildcats' loss also was their first against a conference opponent as the Lady Demons ran their winning streak to 10 in improving to 12-3 (5-0 SLC).
Northwestern State, which has defeated ACU in two of three meetings (including 6-1 in 2013), started today's match by snapping several significant Wildcat winning streaks.
An 8-4 win at No. 2 doubles by Kateryna Piatakova and Natalya Krutova broke a five-match winning streak for
Erin Walker and
Brittney Reed, and the 8-4 loss at No. 1 doubles by
Kaysie Hermsdorf and
Micah Hermsdorf to Polina Konop and Tatiana Larina ended their winning streak at 12 as well as the team's seven-match doubles winning streak.
At No. 3 doubles, the team of
Nada Marjanovic and
Emily Conrad spoiled Northwestern's chance for a sweep by coming back from several points down to beat Aliona Ladutska and Daniela Simonova, 8-7 (9-7). Conrad and Marjanovic have won four straight together in lifting their season record to 11-6.
"I guess the next best thing to winning 4-3, is losing 4-3 ... playing in a close match," said Wildcat head coach
Hutton Jones. "Each person today put forth a tremendous effort on behalf of the team against a very solid opponent, but it just wasn't enough to get it done.
"We were definitely capable of beating Northwestern; however, there did not seem to be that same amount of fire in doubles like there is normally. And while that made a difference, we also missed a great opportunity to win four singles matches - and that's something we have to get used to doing."
After the doubles point put the Lady Demons ahead 1-0, No. 5 competitor Piatakova quickly ran their lead up to 2-0 with a 6-0, 6-1 decision over Marjanovic, who entered today's contest with 13 wins and a team-best seven-match winning streak.
Walker then got the Wildcats on the board with a 6-1, 6-3 decision over Aliona Ladutska at No. 4, and
Micah Hermsdorf briefly tied the score at 2-2 with her 6-3, 6-4 triumph over Polina Konop at No. 1.
Micah Hermsdorf is now 11-3 at the top position and 8-2 over her last 10 matches.
Soon afterward Northwestern State would grab the lead for good with Krutova's 6-3, 6-3 win at No. 3 over
Kaysie Hermsdorf and Larina scored the match-clinching victory at No. 2 over
Brittney Reed, 6-4, 6-4.
Senior
Emily Conrad earned ACU's final point, beating Simonova at No. 6, 7-6, 6-4, for her fifth-consecutive singles victory.
ACU continues its homestand Saturday with a 10 a.m. match against Stephen F. Austin.
Northwestern State 4, Abilene Christian 3
Mar 21, 2014 at Abilene, Texas (Eager Tennis Pavilion)
Singles competition
1.
Micah Hermsdorf (ACU) def. Polina Konop (NWLA) 6-3, 6-4
2. Tatiana Larina (NWLA) def.
Brittney Reed (ACU) 6-4, 6-4
3. Natalya Krutova (NWLA) def.
Kaysie Hermsdorf (ACU) 6-2, 6-3
4.
Erin Walker (ACU) def. Aliona Ladutska (NWLA) 6-1, 6-3
5. Kateryna Piatakova (NWLA) def.
Nada Marjanovic (ACU) 6-0, 6-1
6.
Emily Conrad (ACU) def. Daniela Simonova (NWLA) 7-6, 6-4
Doubles competition
1. Polina Konop/Tatiana Larina (NWLA) def.
Kaysie Hermsdorf/
Micah Hermsdorf (ACU) 8-4
2. Kateryna Piatakova/Natalya Krutova (NWLA) def.
Erin Walker/
Brittney Reed (ACU) 8-4
3.
Nada Marjanovic/
Emily Conrad (ACU) def. Aliona Ladutska/Daniela Simonova (NWLA) 8-7 (9-7)
Match Notes
Northwestern State 12-3 (5-0 SLC)
Abilene Christian 11-3 (3-1 SLC)
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (5,4,1,3,2,6)
T-4:00 A-150
