SAN ANTONIO — UTSA jumped out to a 2-0 lead, but Northwestern State rallied to win four of the final five singles matches en route to a 4-3 comeback victory on Sunday at the UTSA Tennis Center.
The Roadrunners (4-2) quickly jumped on top by winning both completed doubles contests.
Kylee Kato and Miriam Rosell Canudas stretched their winning streak to six matches with a 6-1 victory on center court against the Lady Demons duo of Polina Mutel and Iryna Vardanian. Lina Hallgren and Charlene Tiwari also remained unbeaten in their four outings this spring with their 6-2 triumph against Kateryna Avram and Vladislava Litvinova at the third spot in the lineup, which gave UTSA an early 1-0 lead.
Rosell Canudas, the nation's 118th-ranked singles player, extended the advantage to 2-0 with her 6-3, 6-3 win against Ivanova at the top position. The senior from Torello, Spain, improved to 6-0 to start her final campaign as a Roadrunner.
Vardanian began Northwestern State's comeback with a straight-sets victory against Denisa Ibrahimovic on court two (6-3, 6-1) and Mutel followed with a 6-3, 6-0 decision at the third slot against Hallgren to knot the score at two apiece.
Tiwari put UTSA back in front with her 6-2, 6-2 triumph against Litvinova, which ran her season ledger to 5-1.
However, the Lady Demons (5-3) were able to win the final two contests for their fifth consecutive victory.
Judit Castillo defeated Kylee Kato by scores of 6-4 and 6-3 at the sixth spot in the lineup and Emilija Dancetovic held off Laura Cabrera in three sets (6-4, 4-6, 6-2) on court four to clinch the victory.
UTSA will look to get back on the winning track when it begins a six-match road trip next Friday, Feb. 24, at Rice (5-2). First serve is scheduled for 1 p.m.
Northwestern State 4, UTSA 3
Doubles
1. Kato/Rosell Canudas (UTSA) def. Mutel/Vardanian (NWST) 6-1
2. Ibrahimovic/Madroñal Medina (UTSA) vs. Dancetovic/Ivanova (NWST) 4-4, unfinished
3. Hallgren/Tiwari (UTSA) def. Avram/Litvinova (NWST) 6-2
Singles
1. #118 Miriam Rosell Canudas (UTSA) def. Polina Ivanova (NWST) 6-3, 6-3
2. Iryna Vardanian (NWST) def. Denisa Ibrahimovic (UTSA) 6-3, 6-1
3. Polina Mutel (NWST) def. Lina Hallgren (UTSA) 6-3, 6-0
4. Emilija Dancetovic (NWST) def. Laura Cabrera (UTSA) 6-4, 4-6, 6-2
5. Charleen Tiwari (UTSA) def. Vladislava Litvinova (NWST) 6-2, 6-2
6. Judit Castillo (NWST) def. Kylee Kato (UTSA) 6-4, 6-3
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3); Singles (1,2,3,5,6,4)
