by Caroline Bland/NSU Sports Information
With doubles being cancelled because of looming rain, Northwestern State excelled in singles to grab a 5-1 victory against Texas State on Saturday at the Jack Fisher Tennis Complex.
NSU (3-2) won four of those singles matches in straight sets, although two of those sets needed tiebreaks to decide.
“We had to alter our schedule a bit and start with singles because of the bad weather that came in,” head coach Jonas Brobeck said. “I thought the girls didn’t flinch, didn’t overthink that we didn’t start with doubles and just went out and competed really well.”
After being out the previous week due to health, freshman Ayu Ishibashi finished with a win in straight sets against Sofia Fortuno, 6-1, 6-2.
“I was nervous, but I was trying every point. I was aggressive,” Ishibashi said. “Everyone was competing, and we all supported each other.”
At No. 5 singles, sophomore Viktorie Wojcikova fell to Maria Lora of Texas State, 7-5, before coming back with a 6-2 second-set win to force a third-set tiebreaker.
Wojcikova walked away with a 6-2 victory in the third-set to push the Lady Demons to a 4-1 lead.
In the No. 2 slot, Tjasa Klevisar bested Kate Malazonia 7-6 (9) in the first set before blitzing her way to a 6-0 win in the second set.
“We took care of their court, and it showed in the result against a good Texas State team,” Brobeck said. “It feels really, really good to have everyone back. I thought it showed today the way we competed.”
Mariella Minetti started the NSU scoring with a 6-2, 6-1 win against Mae McCutcheon in the No. 3 position before the Lady Demons went up 2-0 with Ishibashi’s win at No. 4.
The Bobcats captured their lone point with Hana Kvapilova;s 6-4, 6-2 win against Roazlie Dohnalova in the top spot.
NSU capped the match as Patrycja Polanska recorded her second straight win after not playing for nearly a year with a 7-6 (5), 7-6 (5) victory in the No. 6 hole.
The Lady Demons continue the homestand Sunday as they host Steven F. Austin. The match has been pushed back to noon because of rain water at the Jack Fisher Lady Demon Complex.
Saturday’s Results
Singles (against Texas State)
Hana Kvapilova (TXST) def. Rozi Dohnalova (NSU) 6-4, 6-2
Tjasa Klevisar (NSU) def. Kate Malazonia (TXST) 7-6 (9), 6-0
Mariella Minetti (NSU) def. Mae McCutcheon (TXST) 6-2, 6-1
Ayu Ishibashi (NSU) def. Sofia Fortuno (TXST) 6-1, 6-2
Viktorie Wojcikova (NSU) def. Maria Lora (TXST) 5-7, 6-2, 6-2
Patrycia Polanska (NSU) def. Renata Gonalez (TXST) 7-6 (5), 7-6 (5)
PHOTO: Chris Reich/NSU Photographic Services
