HAMMOND – The Southeastern Louisiana women's tennis team will close out Southland Conference play on Monday and will be looking to earn its fourth outright regular season league championship when it hosts Nicholls State at 2 p.m. at the Southeastern Tennis Complex.
The Lions (18-2, 7-1 Southland) have already clinched a share of the league title regardless of the outcome on Monday. However, a win over the visiting Colonels (7-15, 0-8 Southland) would give Southeastern the undisputed crown and the top seed in the Southland Conference Tournament. The first 75 Southeastern students in attendance will receive free food courtesy of Southeastern Athletics.
A win on Monday would also complete an amazing one-year worst-to-first turnaround for Southeastern. The Lions finished 1-10 in league play last season and did not make the Southland Tournament. Southeastern has previously won Southland regular season championships in 2006, 2007 and 2008, while also earning NCAA Tournament appearances with league tournament titles in 2005, 2006 and 2007 under three-time Southland Conference Coach of the Year
Jason Hayes.
Southeastern enters Monday's match on a four-match win streak, thanks in large part to a singles lineup that has combined for a 90-29 record this spring. Freshman
Renee Villarreal (18-0) leads the team in victories and is one of five Lions to post double-digit wins this season.
Senior
Isabel Brito (15-2), junior
Valya Rusakova (15-5), freshman
Nastya Tokareva (14-6) and freshman
Reginka Nychytailova (13-7) have also been productive, while sophomore
Morgane Charpenne (5-2) has earned three key victories since working her way back into the lineup recently.
In doubles play, Southeastern enters the final week of the regular season with a 30-13 team record. Villarreal and sophomore
Adriana Castillo lead the team with a 13-3 record on the year.
Nicholls State has been eliminated from Southland Conference Tournament contention after having three league victories vacated due to playing an ineligible student-athlete. Marie Aubert (12-7) and Natalia Cardiff (10-6) are the top singles performers for NSU. Aubert and Isla Brock have combined for a team-best 6-5 doubles record.
Following Monday's Southland finale, the Lions will close out the regular season with a pair of non-conference home matches on Tuesday. Southeastern will face Alcorn State at 1 p.m. and Jackson State at 6 p.m. at the Southeastern Tennis Complex.
