RUSTON – The Louisiana Tech tennis team remained unbeaten at home after securing a 4-0 shutout victory over in-state rival Northwestern State on a chilly Friday afternoon at the LA Tech Tennis Complex.
 
LA Tech (11-4) gutted out the doubles point to open the match and then followed that up with two quick singles victories on courts three and five.  The Lady Techsters finished things off with a come-from-behind win on court two for the fourth and final point.
 
NSU (7-5) jumped out early with a 6-2 win on court three in doubles while the other two courts were neck-and-neck.  Olga Bienzobas and Ana Rodrigues were in a roller coaster battle against Dorota Szczygielska and Renske Ubachs.  After having a 5-2 lead end up at 5-all, Bienzobas/Rodrigues pulled it out with a 7-5 victory on court two.
 
Meanwhile on court one, Leonie Schuknecht and Najah Dawson were back-and-forth with Tjasa Klevisar and Ayu Ishibashi.  The match ended up going into a tiebreaker, which was won by LA Tech, 7-6 (4), to go up 1-0 in the match.
 
It only took Rodrigues a little over an hour to give the Lady Techsters a 2-0 lead after she dismantled Mariella Minetti at the No. 5 position, 6-1, 6-1. 
 
About 10 minutes later, Dawson provided another quick point for LA Tech after downing Paige Wise, 6-2, 6-2 at the No. 3 spot, making it 3-0 in favor of the Lady Techsters.
 
At this point, Tiffani Nash and Ilana Tetruashvili were up a set while Schuknecht and Bienzobas had forced a third set on their respective courts.  Recording the clinching point was Bienzobas who came back from a set down for the second straight time to defeat Ishibashi 3-6, 6-3, 6-3.
 
QUOTABLES
Head coach Amanda Stone
 
"Love getting that in-state win today.  NSU played well and made us compete from the very start.  It was good to get tested on some of the more specific things we are trying to incorporate, particularly in doubles.  Ana and Najah played great today and gave us that early momentum in singles with two quick wins.  Olga had another impressive comeback to clinch.  I am really excited and proud to see that we are producing results up and down the lineup.  That is so important going into this last part of the season."
 
NOTABLES

• LA Tech shutout NSU for just the third time ever (in 50 meetings). It was the Lady Techsters sixth shutout of the season.
• LA Tech remains undefeated at home this season with a 5-0 record.
• LA Tech won its ninth doubles point of the season (are 8-1 when winning the doubles point).
• Leonie Schuknecht collected her 35th career dual doubles win, which ties for the 10th most in program history.
• Olga Bienzobas provided the clinching point for the second time this season.

UP NEXT
LA Tech will return to its home courts tomorrow morning to face Incarnate Word.  First serve is set for Noon at the LA Tech Tennis Complex.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
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