HUNTSVILLE ? Irina Sotnikova and Peta Taylor won the number one doubles pro set, then each won their singles matches to help lead Sam Houston State to a 5-2 victory over McNeese State for the Bearkat women's tennis team's first Southland Conference victory of the season.

Sotnikova and Taylor won at number one and three singles, respectively. Eleonora Kuruc, Stasa Vujosevic, and Roxana Martinez also provided points for the Bearkats in singles.

“It's nice to get our first Southland Conference win,” Head Coach Jim Giachino said. “But we're still not playing at the level we need to play, especially in doubles. Hopefully, this victory will provide us with additional confidence as we head into a difficult portion of our schedule with some tough road matches.”

Tennis Match Results

McNeese State University vs Sam Houston State

Mar 02, 2008 at Huntsville, TX

Sam Houston State 5, McNeese State University 2

 Singles competition

1. Irina Sotnikova (SHSU) def. Meri Gol Alamo (MCN) 6-4, 6-2

2. Eleonora Kuruc (SHSU) def. Natascha Jongeneel (MCN) 6-1, 6-1

3. Peta Taylor (SHSU) def. Victoria Martinez (MCN) 6-1, 6-0

4. Stasa Vujosevic (SHSU) def. Maria del Rocio Frau (MCN) 6-3, 6-3

5. Petra Gudelj (MCN) def. Patricia Manzur (SHSU) 6-2, 6-4

6. Roxana Martinez (SHSU) def. Inga Efimenko (MCN) 6-4, 6-4

 Doubles competition

1. Irina Sotnikova/Peta Taylor (SHSU) def. Meri Gol Alamo/Victoria Martinez (MCN) 8-4

2. Maria del Rocio Frau/Petra Gudelj (MCN) def. Roxana Martinez/Stasa Vujosevic (SHSU) 8-5

3. Inga Efimenko/Natascha Jongeneel (MCN) def. Eleonora Kuruc/Patricia Manzur (SHSU) 8-5