UNO, A&M Corpus Christi, UIW, NSU win on opening day of Southland Women’s Tennis Tournament

NEW ORLEANS – Day one of the 2022 Southland Conference Women’s Tennis Tournament was headlined by top seeds No. 1 Northwestern State, No. 2 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and No. 3 New Orleans’ and No. 4 NJIT victories Friday afternoon at the University Tennis Center.

No. 3 New Orleans 4, No. 6 UIW 0
New Orleans (14-8) started fast and was relentless in a 4-0 win over UIW claiming its first win in the conference tournament since 2017.

The Privateers started the day with a strong doubles performance all around. Estelle Vanthier and Mar Gendra raced out to a 4-1 lead and never looked back in a 6-2 win at flight three. The doubles point was sealed when Ank Vullings and Lea Alguacil served out for a 6-3 victory at flight two. Flight one doubles went back and forth with Lina Hohnhold and Salma Abdelrahim leading 5-4 when the match was decided.

In singles, the Privateers won every first set. Hohnhold won the opening set without dropping a game then coasted with four consecutive games won in the second set to score a 6-0, 6-2 win, her 15th consecutive singles victory. Alguacil secured a hold and a service break that sealed the deal at flight six as she won 6-2, 6-3 to put the Privateers on the brink of victory.

That was accomplished mere seconds later when Gendra was up 40-0 on Kinga Psut’s serve. Two points later, a shot that went long scored the win for Gendra and advancement into the semifinals on Saturday morning.

No. 2 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 4, No. 7 McNeese 0
The Islanders (20-3) won the doubles point and a pair of lopsided singles matches to jump ahead 3-0. A&M-Corpus Christi clinched it with a straight-set win on court four by sophomore Leopoldine Boisseau.

In singles, Shumeika took care of a business by breezing to a 6-1, 6-1 decision on court three. Aucagne, the Southland Player of the Year, finished next with a 6-0, 6-2 win on court one.

Boisseau battled back to win in straight sets. She trailed 5-4 in the first before winning 7-5, 6-2. On court three, Townsend was a game away from finishing in a 6-2, 5-2 score.

A&M-Corpus Christi has notched four consecutive sweeps in the conference tournament dating back to last year. The Islanders improved to 16-7 all-time against McNeese.

No. 1 Northwestern State 4, No. 8 Southeastern 0
Patrycja Polanska secured the victory on court six to finish off No. 8 seed Southeastern in a 4-0 sweep.

NSU excelled in the bottom half of its singles lineup this season, and the Lady Demons claimed three of the bottom four courts to ensure a quick two-hour win Friday to begin the Southland Conference Tournament.

No. 4 NJIT 4, No. 5 Nicholls 1
NJIT, in its first Southland Conference tournament appearance, claimed a 4-1 victory over No. 5 Nicholls.

After falling behind losing the doubles point two games to one, the Highlanders proceeded to clinch the match earning victories in their top four flights.

Joleta Budman tied the match after a straight set 6-3, 6-0 win at No. 4. Aya Saleh put NJIT ahead for good after a 6-1, 7-5 straight set victory on court one.

Amira Badawi sealed the deal in a 4-1 victory for the Highlanders going the distance on court two (6-2, 6-6 (5-7),6-3).