RUSTON – Louisiana Tech closed out the month of a February undefeated as they outlasted Tarleton State by a final score of 4-2 on Monday afternoon at the LA Tech Tennis Complex.
 
With the victory, LA Tech (11-2) extended its winning streak to nine, all coming at home.  They also extended their home winning streak to 10, which set a new program record.
 
It took only 30 minutes for the Lady Techsters to secure the doubles point as Ilana Tetruashvili/Najah Dawson and Olga Bienzobas/Alexia Romero each cruised to 6-0 victories on courts two and three, respectively.
 
Singles did not come so easy as Tarleton State (7-3), who came into the day on a six-match winning streak, evened things up with a straight-sets win at the No. 6 position.
 
However, at the No. 3 spot Najah Dawson answered back with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Martha Makantasi (her sixth victory in the last seven matches).  The Texans responded though with another straight-sets win on court five to even things up at 2-2.
 
The remaining three courts all went to a third set.  LA Tech's third point came from court one as Leonie Schuknecht battled back after dropping the second set to take it 6-4, 4-6, 6-1 versus Deniza Marcinkevica.
 
Courts two and four were both neck-and-neck as Bienzobas broke down 4-5 to stay alive in her match against Jemi Aguilar.  Meanwhile, Tetruashvili was up 4-1 before Elsa Boisson won two straight games to get back on serve.  However, the LA Tech senior broke and then held serve to provide the clinching point with a final score of 6-4, 4-6, 6-3.  
 
QUOTABLES
Head coach Amanda Stone
 
"Today was another hard-fought win.  I am so proud of the team for pulling through and I certainly could not think of a better way to close out the month than by setting a new program record." 
 
"I think the team really matured over the weekend and came away with these three matches with a lot of confidence.  We showed we can handle pressure when the match is on the line, we proved we have the depth to step up and win without the doubles point and today we proved we can battle even when tired and grind out a win.  This has been an amazing month.  Now, it is time to take this show on the road and see what we can do."
 
NOTABLES

• LA Tech improved to 11-2 on the season, its second best start in program history (started 12-2 in 2014).
• LA Tech extended its winning streak to nine, which is tied for the third longest in program history.
• LA Tech won its 10th consecutive home game, setting a new program.
• LA Tech remains undefeated this season when winning the doubles point, improving to 9-0.
• Najah Dawson and Ilana Tetruashvili won their third straight doubles match, improving to 8-4 on the spring.
• Najah Dawson and Ilana Tetruashvili each won their team-leading ninth singles match.
• Leonie Schuknecht won her fourth straight singles match.
• LA Tech has gotten at least seven wins from all six singles lines through 13 matches.

UP NEXT
After a month of being at home, LA Tech travels to San Antonio next weekend to face UTSA and Incarnate Word.  They face the Roadrunners on Friday at 1 p.m. and the Cardinals on Saturday at 10 a.m.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
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