RUSTON – Louisiana Tech overcame a lost doubles point to win five singles matches and take the 5-2 victory over Northwestern State on a hot Tuesday afternoon at the LA Tech Tennis Complex.
 
"I am really happy and proud of the team today," said head coach Amanda Stone.  "Having the team win on Senior Day and our last home match made it extra special."
 
The team and the fans celebrated the lone senior, Claudia Oravcova, before the home finale got underway.  Flowers and a letterman's plaque were presented to the four-year Lady Techster while her teammates waved the flag of Slovakia. 
 
Stone gave a touching speech as well, embracing her senior with a warm hug.
 
"Claudia has been an outstanding senior," said Stone.  "Her improvement over her career has been a joy to watch.  I am really proud of her and I know she will continue to make us proud."
 
Then it was down to business. 
 
It was a battle between LA Tech (8-10) and NSU (6-8) to see who would jump out with the early lead.  The Demons took charge on court three, winning 6-1.  However, Leonie Schuknecht and Ilana Tetruashvili won four straight games to take a 6-3 victory on court one for their team-leading ninth win of the spring.  
 
This meant the doubles point came down to court two between LA Tech's Anastasiia Salenko/Madalena Amil and NSU's Judit Castillo/Viktorie Wojcikova.  The Lady Techsters had three match points to seal it, but the Lady Demons fought back to even it up at 5-5 and ultimately won it in a tiebreaker, 7-6 (2). 
 
LA Tech was going to have to do something they have only done once this season and that is comeback to win a match after dropping the doubles point.
 
That they did … and in impressive fashion.
 
The home team got off to a strong start in singles, winning the first set on five of the six courts.  And that domination did not let up. 
 
The freshman Schuknecht got things started with a strong 6-2, 6-1 victory over Mariella Minnetti at the No. 1 position.  The veteran Oravcova followed with a 6-4, 6-1 win at No. 6 against Greta Wallin to give LA Tech a 2-1 advantage in the match.
 
Her court neighbor, Amil, closed things out in impressive fashion at the No. 5 spot with a 6-1, 6-1 win over Gig Kanaphuet. 
 
Tetruashvili, who toughed out a first-set tiebreaker, took the straight-sets win versus Castillo, 7-6, 6-1, on court three, completed the comeback for LA Tech with the clinching point.   
 
The remaining two matches went to a third set.  NSU got its second point from Wojcikova while Romero grinded out a 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 come-from-behind win against Emijila Dancetovic at the No. 4 position for her team-leading 11th dual singles victory of the spring.
 
"Northwestern State is a good, competitive team and I think the strong win today is very reflective of the tough schedule we have played this year," said Stone.  "Our team has really learned to fight and play hard the whole match.  That was proved today."
 
LA Tech will round out its regular season on Saturday, April 17 at McNeese State.  First serve is set for 2 p.m.
 
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