NACOGDOCHES, Texas – Needing a comeback after dropping the doubles point, the Louisiana Tech tennis team was only able to split the six singles courts, falling by a final score of 4-3 to Stephen F. Austin on Saturday afternoon at the Schlief Tennis Complex.
 
SFA (1-1) struck first in the match after picking up doubles wins on courts one and three, but Ilana Tetruashvili was quickly able to tie things up for LA Tech (2-2) with an overpowering 6-0, 6-0 win at the No. 5 spot versus Zala Ule.
 
The match went back and forth with the Ladyjacks winning a straight-sets match on court two, but Najah Dawson disposing of Ana Kouchnareva by a score of 6-2, 6-1 on court four.
 
SFA took the lead back with a victory at the No. 3 position, meaning the Lady Techsters needed to pull out both matches on court one and six.  Both went into a third and deciding net.  Alexia Romero pulled out a 7-5, 3-6, 6-4 win at No. 6, but SFA took the fourth point at the top position.  
 
QUOTABLES
Head coach Amanda Stone
 
"Today was a hard day.  I have to give credit to SFA.  They came out ready for us.  I think we can take this as an important lesson.  To be the team we want to be, we have to show up every match on every line and we just did not do that today.  Our team is pretty young and we have seen in this early season the level we can win at when we come to play and what can happen if we do not come out sharp.  This can be a good wakeup call for us as we head into home matches this next month.  We will be in these close matches again and next time, every player will know what they need to do to be successful."
 
 NOTABLES

• LA Tech had its seven-game winning streak snapped versus SFA.
• Four of the last five matches between LA Tech and SFA have ended in a 4-3 decision.
• Najah Dawson and Ilana Tetruashvili both improved to 3-1 in dual singles this season.
• Ilana Tetruashvili won all 12 games on court five.It marked the first time she has won a match 6-0, 6-0 since Feb. 7, 2021 versus Grambling State.
• The doubles team of Ana Rodrigues and Leonie Schuknecht improved to 3-1 in duals this season.

UP NEXT
LA Tech will play its home opener on Wednesday, Feb. 2 against rival ULM.  First serve is set for 2 p.m. at the LA Tech Tennis Complex.  It is the first of nine straight scheduled matches at home for the Lady Techsters.
 
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