NATCHITOCHES, La. – In a near four-hour marathon match between in-state rivals, Louisiana Tech was able to outduel Northwestern State on Sunday afternoon with a 4-3 victory at the Jack Fisher Tennis Complex.
 
In doing so, LA Tech (8-4) won its first match over NSU (6-3) in Natchitoches since 2015 while also snapping the Lady Demons six-match winning streak.
 
The Bulldogs opened the day by claiming the doubles point, and that proved to be the difference maker as the two squads ended up splitting the six singles courts.
 
While Olga Bienzobas and Alexia Romero have been dominating in singles, the duo has also found their groove as a doubles unit.  The tandem picked up their third straight win, taking a 6-3 victory on court one.
 
Sealing the opening point was their court neighbor, the new duo of Tiffani Nash and Valentina Vasquez who prevailed 6-4 on court two.
 
LA Tech upped its advantage to 2-0 with the completion of the first singles match and that was as a result of Bienzobas' ninth straight win, disposing of Tjasa Klevisar by a score of 6-3, 6-3 at No. 1.
 
NSU battled back though, evening up the team match with straight set wins on courts six and three.  However, Ana Rodrigues recovered from a lost first set to take the second set 6-0 against Paige Wise.  The junior was up 2-1 in the third when her opponent retired.
 
The Lady Demons tied it up again, winning in three sets on court five, bringing the deciding point down to the No. 4 position which featured Tech's Tiffani Nash versus NSU's Sofia Garcia.  After dropping the first set, 6-2, Nash rebounded to clinch the match, 6-3, 6-2.
 
QUOTABLES
Head coach Amy Sargeant
 
"Today was a total team effort that came down to heart and grit.  This week, we took the opportunity to push hard, both physically and emotionally on and off the court.  We are learning to adapt and adjust in pressure situations and play fearless tennis."
 
"Our doubles teams stepped up on all courts, playing aggressive, confident doubles.  And I was very impressed with how we responded after a slow start in singles, learning to love and embrace the battles."
 
NOTABLES

• With the win, LA Tech now trails the all-time series with Northwestern State, 15-37.  The Bulldogs have won seven of the last 11 matchups.
• LA Tech defeated NSU in Natchitoches for the first time since 2015 (had lost three straight).
• The Bulldogs won their sixth doubles point of the spring season.
• Olga Bienzobas extended her dual singles winning streak to nine (tied for the sixth longest since 2010), improving to 11-1.
• Ana Rodrigues won her 10th singles match this season (fall and spring).
• Tiffani Nash won her 40th career singles match (fall and spring).
• Alexia Romero registered her 70th career doubles win (fall and spring) and her 46th career dual doubles win.

UP NEXT
LA Tech will head west for a pair of Conference USA matchups at New Mexico State (March 1) and UTEP (March 2). 
 
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