Box Score

COVINGTON – All seven Lady Lions who played won in either singles and doubles play, as Southeastern Louisiana picked up a key 5-2 Southland Conference victory over Stephen F. Austin in women's tennis action Saturday afternoon at the Stone Creek Club and Spa.

Southeastern (7-8, 3-3 SLC) evened their league record with its fourth win in its last five matches. Stephen F. Austin fell to 8-5 overall and 3-2 in league action with the loss.

For the first time this season, the Lady Lions won a match in which they dropped the doubles point. Undaunted, Southeastern rallied with five singles wins to take the victory.

“This was a great win and a tremendous team effort was necessary to beat a good SFA team,” Southeastern head coach Jason Hayes commented. “I'm proud of how we support each other and I felt that made a difference in today's result.”

SFA jumped out to a 1-0 lead in doubles play. At No. 3, Southeastern sophomores Mia Hagiu and Annika Hanke teamed for a 9-7 win over SFA's Meaghan Ocanas and Tatiana Smolnikova at No. 3. However, the Ladyjacks took the point with wins at the top two spots.

“We had some chances in doubles, but could not take advantage,” Hayes said. “We knew we had to come out strong in singles play and we were able to respond.”

A pair of straight set victories gave Southeastern its first two points of the match. At No. 2, sophomore Morgane Dadot improved her team-best singles record to 12-2, rolling past SFA's Alina Shazkho, 6-1-6-2. Lady Lion freshman Nina Schmied (6-9) moved to 4-1 at No. 4, cruising past Sanjana Kapur, 6-0, 6-2.

After a Ladyjack win at No. 6 tied the score, Southeastern took the lead for good with a win at No. 5. Freshman Isabel Brito (4-7) swept Smolnikova, 7-5, 6-2, to put the Lady Lions on top.

Minutes later, freshman Camille Pilon (8-6) clinched the win for the Lady Lions. The Orleans, France native battled to a 7-5, 7-6 victory over Paola Muntuenga at No. 3. At No. 1, sophomore Audrey Chelini (9-6) capped the victory, rallying past Roxana Enica, 6-7, 6-4, 10-6.

Southeastern will return to action on Sunday, hosting Sam Houston State at 11 a.m. at the Stone Creek Club and Spa in Hammond.