March 15, 2015

Doubles Play Lifts Lady Demons to 4-3 Win over Islanders

CORPUS CHRISTI – Northwestern State garnered a close doubles point to edge out the Texas A&M - Corpus Christi women's tennis team, 4-3, today at the Thomas J. Henry Tennis Center. The Islanders (6-6, 0-2 SLC) and Lady Demons clinched three singles matches each before splitting doubles action on courts one and two. The match then came down to No. 3 doubles where the Lady Demons (6-6, 3-0 SLC) clinched the match.

"This was a great college tennis match," Director of Tennis Steve Moore said. "Both teams battled as hard as they humanly could for four and a half hours, and it came down to 8-5 at No. 3 doubles. Give credit to Northwestern State for battling back. I'm also proud of the way our girls fought.

"I'm very optimistic and I believe we have strong reasons to have high moral about this season. The hot windy part of the year is coming which is our best time. We lost the exact same match at Northwestern State last year and we were 50 percent better two months later. I think the girls understand that the future of this season is bright if we continue to compete in every match, every girl with this type of heart and spirit."

After splitting singles play, the final point came down to No. 3 doubles after the Islanders split on courts one and two. The Lady Demons garnered an 8-3 win in No. 1 doubles after Tatiana Larina and Natalya Krutova topped juniors Celia Rodriguez and Maider Martin. The Islanders then squeezed out a thrilling tiebreaker in No. 2 doubles after the freshman-senior duo of Jelena Dzinic and Chelsea Horan edged out Barbora Kollarova and Polina Ivanova in 8-7 (5) to improve their overall mark to 6-4.

The match then came down to No. 3 doubles where Aliona Ladutska and Emily Kerr defeated the sophomore duo of Judit Vives and Kerry Galhos, 8-5, to clinch the match.

The Islanders and Lady Demons started the day in singles play due to the chance of rain in the Coastal Bend. Northwestern State jumped out to an early 1-0 lead after Ivanova topped Galhos, 6-0, 6-0 in No. 5 singles. Horan then put the Islanders on the board with a 6-2, 6-2 straight-set win over Kateryna Piatakova in No. 6 singles to win her second straight match. The Lady Demons answered right back at No. 1 singles after Larina defeated Vives, 6-2, 6-2 to take a 2-1 lead. Rodriguez and Martin however rose up and secured their matches to give the Islanders a 3-2 lead. Rodriguez improved her mark at No. 3 singles to 5-0 with a 6-4, 6-2 straight-set win over Ladutska. Martin then edged out Kollarova in No. 4 singles in the first set 7-6 (5) before capturing a 6-2 second-set win to give the Islanders' their third point of the day. Martin improved her mark in the No. 4 spot to 8-3.

The final singles match then came down to Dzinic and Krutova in the No. 2 slot. Dzinic dropped the first set 6-2, before grinding out a 6-4 second-set victory. In the third, Krutova garnered a 6-2 win to force doubles play.

The women's team will continue Southland action at Southeastern Louisiana on Monday, March 23.

For all the latest on Islanders Tennis, like the team on Facebook (IslandersTennis) and follow them on Twitter and Instagram (@IslandersTennis). Fans can also receive updates on both teams by downloading the Islanders Front Row App at GoIslanders.com/frontrow.

Tennis Match Results

Northwestern State vs. Texas A&M - Corpus Christi

3/15/2015 at Corpus Christi, Texas

Northwestern State 4, Texas A&M - Corpus Christi 3

Singles competition

1. Tatiana Larina (NWLA) def. Judit Vives (AMCC) 6-2, 6-2

2. Natalya Krutova (NWLA) def. Jelena Dzinic (AMCC) 6-2, 4-6, 6-2

3. Celia Rodriguez (AMCC) def. Aliona Ladutska (NWLA) 6-4, 6-2

4. Maider Martin (AMCC) def. Barbora Kollarova (NWLA) 7-6 (7-5), 6-2

5. Polina Ivanova (NWLA) def. Kerry Galhos (AMCC) 6-0, 6-0

6. Chelsea Horan (AMCC) def. Kateryna Piatakova (NWLA) 6-2, 6-2

Doubles competition