NATCHITOCHES, LA. – Lusine Chobanyan remained undefeated in dual match play and Sahaja Yamalapalli and Carrie Casey added two more singles points but it wasn't enough as Northwestern State topped the Bearkats 4-3 in the Southland Conference opener for both teams Friday at the Jack Fisher Tennis Complex.
Chobanyan rolled to a 6-0 6-4 victory over Kateryna Avram to post the first point of the match for the Kats at the number six singles. The victory is the sophomore's seventh this year and, combined with a 7-3 record in fall tournament play, gives her a 14-3 overall record in singles this season.
Yamalapalli picked up Sam's second point with a 7-5 6-2 win over Emilia Dancetovic in the number three spot. The match marked the freshman's fifth dual match singles victory.
Casey defeated Ela Iwaniuk in a grueling 7-6 1-6 7-5 battle at number four singles. She won the first set tie-breaker 7-3. With the deciding set tied 5-all, the senior took the final two games in the third set for her seventh dual match singles win of 2018.
Sam Houston State drops to 5-3 for the season. The loss ended a four-match winning streak. Northwestern State evened its record at 5-5. After taking the doubles points, the Demons won at number two, number one and number five singles in that order to take the match. Sam Houston returns to action Sunday at 1 p.m. in Nacogdoches against Stephen F. Austin State.
Complete Dual Match Results:
Northwestern State 4, Sam Houston 3 Feb. 2, 2018 – Natchitoches, La.
Doubles
- Polina Ivanova / Polina Mutel (NW St.) def. Carrie Casey / Mila Milanovic (SHSU) 6-0
- Kateryna Arram / Judit Castillo (NW St.) def. Fabienne Gettwart / Khee Yen Whee (SHSU) 6-1
- Ross Gerritsen / Sahaja Yamalapalli (SHSU) vs. Emilia Dancetovic / Ela Iwaniuk (NW St) 4-3 unfinished
Singles
- Polina Mutel (NW St) def. Fabienne Gettwart (SHSU) 7-5 6-4
- Polina Ivanova (NW St) def. Khee Yen Wee (SHSU) 6-0 6-4
- Sahaja Yamalapalli (SHSU) def. Emilia Dancetovic (NW St) 7-5 6-2
- Carrie Casey (SHSU) def. Ela Iwaniuk (NW St) 7-6 (4) 0-6 7-5
- Judit Castill (NW St) def. Mila Milanovic (SHSU) 2-6 6-3 6-1
- Lusine Chobanyan (SHSU) def. Kateryna Auram (NW St) 6-0 6-4
