HUNTSVILLE, TEXAS ? Northwestern State swept doubles and won four of the six singles matches to hand Sam Houston State a 5-2 loss in a Southland Conference women's tennis dual match Thursday at McAdams Tennis Court.

With the defeat, Sam Houston (11-7, SLC 6-4) lost its opportunity for a third place finish in the final Southland regular season standings. The Bearkats now will be either the fourth or fifth seed at the SLC post-season tournament in Corpus Christi April 24-26. Northwestern State (12-7, SLC 7-3) moved into fourth place in the league standings and now have the chance to clinch the three seed with a win in their final contest of the year.

Irina Sotnikova upped her season singles record to 26-1 and remained unbeaten at No. 1 in Southland play with a 6-1 6-3 victory over Curukovic Adna. Eleonora Kuruc won at number five singles for the Bearkats' other point.

Sam Houston will wrap up the 2009 regular season with a 12 noon dual match against Southeastern Louisiana Saturday at McAdams Tennis Center.

Tennis Match Results

Northwestern State vs Sam Houston State

Apr 16, 2009 at Huntsville, TX

Northwestern State 5, Sam Houston State 2

 Singles competition

1. Irina Sotnikova (SHSU) def. Curukovic, Adna (NWLA) 6-1, 6-3

2. Bazhanova, Olga (NWLA) def. Giorgia Pozzan (SHSU) 6-2, 6-4

3. Lange, Kathrin (NWLA) def. Peta Taylor (SHSU) 6-7 (0-7), 7-6 (3-0), 1-0 (5-0)

4. Schulz, Bianca (NWLA) def. Paty Manzur (SHSU) 6-4, 6-4

5. Eleonora Kuruc (SHSU) def. Posada, Daniela (NWLA) 2-6, 6-3, 6-0

6. Colic, Dragana (NWLA) def. Stasa Vujosevic (SHSU) 6-2, 6-1

 Doubles competition

1. Bazhanova, Olga/Colic, Dragana (NWLA) def. Irina Sotnikova/Peta Taylor (SHSU) 8-4

2. Lange, Kathrin/Schulz, Bianca (NWLA) def. Paty Manzur/Giorgia Pozzan (SHSU) 8-3

3. Curukovic, Adna/Posada, Daniela (NWLA) def. Eleonora Kuruc/Stasa Vujosevic (SHSU) 8-1