NATCHITOCHES, La. – Abilene Christian's season-best seven-match winning streak came to a sudden end Saturday at the Jack Fisher Tennis Complex, where the Lady Demons of Northwestern State battled back from a 2-0 deficit to beat the Wildcats, 4-3.
The loss dropped ACU's season and conference records to 14-5 and 6-2, while the Lady Demons improved to 12-6 and 5-3. The Wildcats remain in second place in the Southland Conference behind 4-1 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. ACU will now look to rebound from today's loss during Sunday's 9 a.m. dual at 3-4 Stephen F. Austin.
The Wildcats won the doubles point for the fourth-consecutive match and went ahead 2-0 after
Jordan Henry beat Kateryna Avram at No. 6, 6-0, 6-4, but the Lady Demons soon turned the tables by sweeping the Wildcats top three players in straight sets.
No. 1
Erin Walker fell, 6-2, 6-2, to Iryna Vardanian, and then
Lucile Pothier lost her first conference match in two seasons after falling, 6-4, 6-4, to Polina Ivanova. Pothier went 11-0 vs. league opponents last season and won her first seven matches this spring before losing to the Lady Demons' redshirt junior and Moscow native.
From there, Northwestern State grabbed its first lead of the game as Polina Mutel held on to defeat
Whitney Williams at No. 2, 7-5, 6-3, and then the Wildcats struck back to tie the score one last time with
Sarah Eleanor Adams rallying from a set down to beat Emilija Dancetovic, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1.
Unfortunately for ACU, sophomore
Autumn Crossnoe was unable to maintain her lead one Judit Castillo as the Lady Demons' rookie came back to win in three sets, 4-6, 6-0, 6-2.
Adams' win was her team-leading 16th of the spring. She is 16-5 overall, 6-2 vs. the Southland Conference and an impressive 10-3 at the No. 4 line. Henry's victory was her fourth straight, lifting her season record to 14-5.
In doubles, ACU received a 6-2 win at No. 1 from Williams and Pothier and a 6-3 triumph at No. 3 from Henry and Crossnoe. The match at No. 2 was left unfinished. Pothier and Williams have won their last seven matches together and are 4-0 vs. league opponents, while Henry and Crossnoe are 5-3 after a 1-3 start.
Northwestern State's win over the Wildcats was its third in the four years.
Northwestern State 4, Abilene Christian 3
Apr 01, 2017 at Natchitoches, La. (Jack Fisher Tennis Complex)
Singles competition
1. Iryna Vardanian (NWST) def.
Erin Walker (ACU) 6-2, 6-2
2. Polina Ivanova (NWST) def.
Lucile Pothier (ACU) 6-4, 6-4
3. Polina Mutel (NWST) def.
Whitney Williams (ACU) 7-5, 6-3
4. Sarah Adams (ACU) def. Emilija Dancetovic (NWST) 4-6, 6-2, 6-1
5. Judit Castillo (NWST) def.
Autumn Crossnoe (ACU) 4-6, 6-0, 6-2
6.
Jordan Henry (ACU) def. Kateryna Avram (NWST) 6-0, 6-4
Doubles competition
1.
Whitney Williams/
Lucile Pothier (ACU) def. Polina Ivanova/Polina Mutel (NWST) 6-2
2. Iryna Vardanian/Judit Castillo (NWST) vs.
Erin Walker/Sarah Adams (ACU) unfinished
3.
Jordan Henry/
Autumn Crossnoe (ACU) def. Kateryna Avram/Emilija Dancetovic (NWST) 6-3
Match Notes
Abilene Christian 14-5, 6-2
Northwestern State 12-6, 5-3
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1); Singles (6,1,2,3,4,5)
