HAMMOND – The Southeastern Louisiana women's tennis team remained atop the Southland Conference standings with a big 6-1 victory over Lamar Sunday afternoon at the Southeastern Tennis Complex.
 
The Lions (14-1, 4-0 Southland) set the tone by winning a competitive doubles point with a pair of comeback victories on courts No. 1 and 3. In singles play, Southeastern took five of six singles matches in straight sets to earn the win over Lamar (5-7, 1-1 Southland).
 
Southeastern head coach Jason Hayes was very impressed with the play of his young team in Sunday's win.
 
“I can't begin to tell you how proud of this team I am,” Hayes said. “To come back in both doubles victories and even fight off a match point is a testament to how much heart our players have. We had a complete effort by everybody on the team and I've never been more proud of a group of girls. This is our best performance since we last won the Southland title in 2008.”
 
Southeastern rallied for two victories in doubles play to take a 1-0 lead. At No. 1, junior Valya Rusakova and freshman Nastya Tokareva (5-1) handled the Lamar tandem of Carolina Salas and Helene Czudek, 9-8 (8-5). The new Lion tandem of senior Isabel Brito and freshman Reginka Nychytailova (2-0) fought off a match point in a 9-8 (8-6) win over Natalia Maiyagoitia and Dariya Dashutina at No. 3.
 
Southeastern won at the top four spots in the singles draw. At No. 1, Tokareva (14-1) was too much for Salas in a 6-3, 6-1 victory. Nychytailova (11-4) got past Carolina Maso, 6-4, 6-2 at No. 2.
 
Lion freshman Renee Villarreal (13-0) remained undefeated at singles play with a 7-5, 6-3 victory over Alessandra Pessini on the No. 3 court. Rusakova (10-5) took a 6-1, 6-4 decision versus Alicia Porte at No. 4 to become the fifth Lion to reach double-digit singles victories this spring.
 
Wrapping up the victory was Brito, who made the key shot to fight off match point in doubles play. The Lions' lone senior improved to 11-1 in singles action with a 7-5, 6-3 triumph over Helene Czudek.
 
Southeastern will take a break from Southland Conference play, returning home on Saturday to host Alcorn State (11 a.m.) and Jackson State (6 p.m.) at the Southeastern Tennis Complex.
 
Southeastern Louisiana 6, Lamar 1
 
Singles:
No. 1 Nastya Tokareva (SLU) def. Carolina Salas (LU) 6-3, 6-1
No. 2 Reginka Nychytailova (SLU) def. Carolina Maso (LU) 6-4, 6-2
No. 3 Renee Villarreal (SLU) def. Alessandra Pennesi (LU) 7-5, 6-3
No. 4 Valya Rusakova (SLU) def. Alicia Porte (LU) 6-1, 6-4
No. 5 Natalia Mayagoitia (LU) def. Adriana Castillo (SLU) 6-1, 6-1
No. 6 Isabel Brito (SLU) def. Helene Czudek (LU) 7-5, 6-3
 
Doubles:
No. 1 Tokareva/Rusakova (SLU) def. Czudek/Salas (LU) 9-8 (8-5)
No. 2 Maso/Porte (LU) def. Castillo/Villarreal (SLU) 8-4
No. 3 Brito/Nychytailova (SLU) def. Mayagoitia/Dariya Dashutina (LU) 9-8 (8-6)