Northwestern State Demons started their fall season with a bang, hosting the Northwestern State Lady Demons tournament, and putting on a show for the Demon faithful.
Three Lady Demons – Tjasa Klevisar, Pika Doberlet, and Maria Farina – all are advancing to the consolation finals on Sunday in their brackets.
“We are here to get better, that’s what’s important,” coach Morelli says. “We are only going to get better if they are willing to mentally compete, not just being on the court. We need to get better at taking this opportunity to compete, not to just be there.”
Klevisar played three matches Saturday, losing in the first round (7-6, 4-6, 10-8), but advancing past the second round of the consolation round (6-4, 7-6) to the finals, where she will play Candy Wai at 9 a.m. Sunday.
Maria Farina contributed to the Lady Demons consolation final run, dropping the first round, but bouncing back in the second round to win (7-6(4), 6-1) to face off against Alix Dol of Tyler Junior College at 9 a.m. Sunday.
Pika Doberlet started her career as a Demon off strong. Losing in the first round (6-4, 6-2) did not deter the freshman, as she secured the win in the second round of the consolation bracket (7-6, 6-2) to push to the finals to square off against Ana Vaquero on Sunday at 9 a.m.
Newcomer Zoi Spyrou had a stellar first-round performance to start her Demons career winning against ULM’s Vanja Cado in straight sets, 6-4, 6-1, before falling in the second round of the bracket.
Spyrou will face Southland Conference foe Ariane Monlleo Sanchis for third place Sunday in the Yellow Singles Draw at 9 a.m.
Sophomore Honoka Umeda continued the Demons strong performance winning in straight sets, 6-1, 6-4, against TJC’s Wai in the first round, before losing in the second round in her respective bracket.
Umeda will look to grab third place for the Lady Demons on Sunday against Jenaila Prulla in the Purple Singles Draw bracket at 9 a.m.
In the Purples Doubles Draw, Zoi Spyrou and Tjasa Klevisar came up big for the Lady Demons, taking down UL Monroe’s pairing of Mariam Hatem and Lucia Fernandez, 6-0, and will face their conference rivals McNeese’s team of Salome Fluri and Erica Hagi, Sunday at 12:15 p.m.
In round-robin action, Valeria Ortega came up on the short end of the stick, losing to Raquel Alvaro, 4-6, 6-2 (10-6). Ortega is back in action tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. to finish off her first collegiate tournament.
Saturdays Results
Natchitoches Lady Demon Invitational
Purple Singles Draw
First Round
Jenaila Prulla (UL Lafayette) def. Tjasa Klevisar (Northwestern State), 7-6, 4-6, 10-8
Honoka Umeda (Northwestern State) def. Candy Wai (Tyler Junior College), 6-2, 6-4
Championship Semifinals
Angelique Berrat (UL Lafayette) def. Honoka Umeda (Northwestern State), 4-6, 7-6(8), 10-6
Consolation Semifinals
Tjasa Klevisar (Northwestern State) def. Mariam Hatem (UL Monroe), 6-4, 7-5
Orange Singles Draw
First Round
Nina Krecklenberd (UL Lafayette) def. Maria Farina (Northwestern State), 6-4, 1-6, 10-7
Consolation Semifinals
Maria Farina (Northwestern State) def. Sherin Scheerle (Tyler Junior College), 7-6(4), 6-1
Yellow Singles Draw
First Round
Zoi Spyrou (Northwestern State) def. Vanja Cado (UL Monroe), 6-4, 6-1
Karolina Skowranska (UL Lafayette) def. Pika Doberlet (Northwestern State), 6-4, 6-2
Championship Semifinals
Erica Hagi (McNeese) def. Zoi Spyrou (Northwestern State), 6-4, 6-4
Consolation Semifinals
Pika Doberlet (Northwestern State) def. Amelia Devlin (Tyler Junior College), 7-6, 6-2
Purple Doubles Draw
First Round
Tjasa Klevisar/Zoi Spyrou (Northwestern State) def. Mariam Hatem/Lucia Fernandez (UL Monroe), 6-0
Candy Wai/Amelia Devlin (Tyler Junior College) def. Maria Farina/Pika Doberlet (Northwestern State), 6-3
White Singles Draw
Round Robin
First Round
Valeria Ortega, bye
Second Round
Raquel Alvaro (UL Monroe) def. Valeria Ortega (Northwestern State), 4-6, 6-2 (10-6)