The McNeese women’s team closed out the weekend on Sunday with a 5-2 victory over Southland Conference foe New Orleans.

The Cowgirls (9-8, 4-4 SLC) have struggled in doubles action as of late, but that was not the case Sunday. The Cowgirls won the doubles point to put UNO (9-9, 2-5 SLC) on the ropes and never let up.

Starting doubles at flight two, McNeese’s Giovanna Fioretti and Carlotta Romito swept UNO’s Brittany Johnson and Salma Abdelrahim 6-0 to give the Cowgirls the early lead for the point.

At doubles No. 1, Charoline Erlandsson and Marija Mastilovic would secure the doubles point for the Cowgirls with a 6-4 win over Trang Dao and Ank Vullings.

McNeese’s Dalia Ahmed and Sofia San Jose Moreno would have their doubles match go unfinished against Lea Alguacil and Claudette Gilhespie while knotted up at 6-6.

In singles action the Cowgirls would strike quickly to secure the victory over the Privateers.

At singles flight three, Mastilovic would be the first Cowgirl to extend the lead with a 6-4, 6-3 straight set victory over Abdelrahim.

Next to finish, Fioretti would pick up where she left off in doubles action to secure a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Vullings to extend the Cowgirls lead to 3-0.

At singles No. 6, Ahmed would secure the match for McNeese with a 6-4, 6-4 straight set victory over Alguacil to put the Cowgirls up 4-0 on the day.

UNO’s Gilhespie would score the Privateer’s first point of the day as she defeated Moreno 7-5, 6-2.

At singles No. 2, Erlandsson would take the first set from Dao 6-2 before dropping the second and third sets 3-6, 2-6.

Finishing last on the day, Romito would take the first set from Gendra 6-3 before dropping the second set 4-6. In the third set tie-breaker Romito would secure the Cowgirls final point with an 11-9 victory to close out the day for McNeese.

“Doubles started really good, for once I felt like the girls were ready and they got into rhythm right away,” said McNeese head coach Giorgia Pozzan.

“Unfortunately, I think we then got a little comfortable and we were kind of just waiting to win the match instead of actually playing to win it, but I do think that helped us through singles. We were winning first sets and we had high energy in the beginning. We did have a little dip but winning doubles definitely helped.”

The Cowgirls will return to action on Friday, April 12, when they take on Stephen F. Austin in a conference match-up followed by a meeting with Sam Houston State on Sunday, April 14, to close out the home season on Senior Day.

Tennis Match Results

New Orleans vs McNeese

4/7/2019 at Lake Charles, LA

(Nancy Hank Tennis Center)

McNeese 5, New Orleans 2

Singles competition

1. Giovanna Fioretti (MCN) def. Ank Vullings (UNO) 6-3, 6-3

2. Trang Dao (UNO) def. Charoline Erlandsson (MCN) 2-6, 6-3, 6-2

3. Marija Mastilovic (MCN) def. Salma Abdelrahim (UNO) 6-4, 6-3

4. Claudette Gilhespie (UNO) def. Sofia SanJose Moreno (MCN) 7-5, 6-2

5. Carlotta Romito (MCN) def. Mar Gendra (UNO) 6-3, 4-6, 11-9

6. Dalia Ahmed (MCN) def. Lea Alguacil (UNO) 6-4, 6-4

Doubles competition

1. Charoline Erlandsson/Marija Mastilovic (MCN) def. Trang Dao/Ank Vullings (UNO) 6-4

2. Giovanna Fioretti/Carlotta Romito (MCN) def. Brittany Johnson/Salma Abdelrahim (UNO) 6-0

3. Lea Alguacil/Claudette Gilhespie (UNO) vs. Dalia Ahmed/Sofia SanJose Moreno (MCN) no result

Match Notes:

New Orleans 9-9, 2-5 SLC

McNeese 9-8, 4-4 SLC

Order of finish: Doubles (2,1); Singles (3,1,6,4,2,5)

T-3:07