Northwestern State tennis team improves despite fall masters losses

NATCHITOCHES, La. (WNTZ) – The Northwestern State Lady Demons tennis team battled through close matches Thursday but came up short during Day 2 of the Southland Conference Fall Masters at the Jack Fisher Tennis Complex.

Head coach Marcos Morelli credited both the level of competition and his team’s continued progress despite the setbacks.

“Congrats to them for competing better than us,” Morelli said. “They deserved the wins. I’m still happy about our process. I feel we’re on the right track. We want to be in those close matches, and that’s where growth happens.”

In doubles play, Maria Farina and Honoka Umeda were unable to build on a strong opening set, falling 6-4, 6-2 to Stephen F. Austin’s Jemma Cave and Ksenia Mamontova. The first set was tightly contested, with Northwestern State tying the score at 4–4 before SFA pulled ahead to close it out.

In singles action, senior Zoi Spyrou pushed McNeese’s Salome Fluri to three sets before ultimately falling 7-5, 2-6, 1-6. Spyrou rallied from a 5–1 deficit to win the opening set, but Fluri responded with steady play to claim the final two sets and advance.

Morelli said the matches highlight the team’s focus on raising its competitive standard.

“The girls are doing the right things in both doubles and singles,” he said. “Their opponents are some of the best in the league. We did good, but we didn’t do excellent — and to beat the best, you have to be excellent. The standard for us is to be at the top, and that means improving in the little things.”

The coach also praised the home crowd for energizing the team throughout the day.

“It was great to play in front of our fans again,” Morelli said. “The girls felt the support. That’s part of why we wanted to host this event — to give the Natchitoches community a chance to see some of the best tennis in the conference right here at home.”

The Lady Demons will close out their fall schedule at the Joe Pyburn Invitational hosted by Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas, beginning Oct. 31.