Stephen F. Austin defeated Sam Houston 5-2 in both squad's opening Southland Conference women's tennis dual match Saturday afternoon in Nacogdoches.

Tanya Postnikova and Maddie Mortimore earned the Bearkats' two points with victories at No. 3 and No. 5 singles.

Sheridan Currie and Natalie Petaia won the No. 2 doubles pro set.

"This was not the start we wanted in conference play but we have many more matches to come," Sam Houston head coach Jim Giachino said. "We were in all of the matches. We need to work on closing opponents out."

Sam Houston's match at Northwestern State scheduled for Sunday afternoon was postponed due to rain. The two teams will try again March 22 at 2 p.m.

Tennis Match Results
Sam Houston State vs Stephen F. Austin
Mar 09, 2013 at Nacogdoches, Texas

Doubles competition:
1. Malena Gordo/Julia Lorca (SFA) def. Nadia Dubyanskya/Tatyana Postnikova (SHSU) 8-6
2. Sheridan Currie/Natalie Petaia (SHSU) def. Margot de Haan/Laura Servise (SFA) 8-3
3. Kateryna Bugayenko/Valeria Terentyeva (SFA) def. Kayla Stevenson/Imke Jagau (SHSU) 8-0

Stephen F. Austin 5, Sam Houston State 2
Singles competition:
1. Malena Gordo (SFA) def. Imke Jagau (SHSU) 6-1, 6-1
2. Julia Lorca (SFA) def. Sheridan Currie (SHSU) 6-3, 6-3
3. Tatyana Postnikova (SHSU) def. Margot de Haan (SFA) 6-1, 1-6, 6-1
4. Kateryna Bugayenko (SFA) def. Natalie Petaia (SHSU) 6-7 (10-5), 6-1, 6-3
5. Madeleine Mortimore (SHSU) def. Valeria Terentyeva (SFA) 6-4, 6-3
6. Laura Servise (SFA) def. Nadia Dubyanskya (SHSU) 6-7 (6-10), 6-4, 7-6 (10-6)

Match Notes:
Sam Houston State 4-5/0-1 SLC
Stephen F. Austin 4-7/1-0 SLC
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (1,3,2,5,4,6)