Nacogdoches -- Northwestern State took the doubles point and won at number four, five, and six singles to defeat Sam Houston State 4-0 in the first round of the Southland Conference Women's Tennis Championships hosted by Stephen F. Austin State.
The Demons were the number three seed in the tournament while Sam Houston State was seeded sixth.
Sam Houston State's number one doubles team of Irina Sotnikova and Peta Taylor were ahead 6-3 in the number one doubles when doubles play was stopped after the Demons clinched the doubles point with 8-1 victories in the number two and three pro sets.
Taylor was two points away from winning at number three singles, up 6-0 5-2 thirty love when the match was clinched by Northwestern State. Sotnikova and Eleonora Kuruc were ahead in the second sets of number one and two singles, respectively, when the match was ended.
Sam Houston was playing without number four player Stasa Vujosevic who missed the match with an illness. Patricia Manzur and Roxana Martinez had to move up one flight in singles, playing four and five and Lilt Martirosyan subbed in at number six. The Bearkats lost all three matches in straight sets.
The Southland Conference tournament continues through Saturday with the winner earning the league's NCAA playoff berth. Southeastern Louisiana, unbeaten in SLC regular season play this year, is the number one seed.
Tennis Match Results
Sam Houston State vs Northwestern State
Apr 25, 2008 at Nacogdoches, TX
Northwestern State 4, Sam Houston State 0
Singles competition
1. Irina Sotnikova (SHSU) def. Bosusia Patzer (NWLA) unfinished
2. Eleonora Kuruc (SHSU) def. Kathrin Lange (NWLA) unfinished
3. Peta Taylor (SHSU) def. Adna Curukavi (NWLA) unfinished
4. Biana Schulz (NWLA) def. Patricia Manzur (SHSU) 6-3, 6-0
5. Daniela Posada (NWLA) def. Roxana Martinez (SHSU) 6-2, 6-2
6. Marie Scriba (NWLA) def. Lilit Martirosyan (SHSU) 6-0, 6-2
Doubles competition
1. Irina Sotnikova/Peta Taylor (SHSU) def. Bosusia Patzer/Daniela Posada (NWLA) unfinished
2. Kathrin Lange/Biana Schulz (NWLA) def. Eleonora Kuruc/Patricia Manzur (SHSU) 8-1
3. Adna Curukavi/Marie Scriba (NWLA) def. Roxana Martinez/Lilit Martirosyan (SHSU) 8-1
Match Notes:
