Sunday, 02/12/2012

LAKE CHARLES, La. — The McNeese State women's tennis team got what Xavier University of Louisiana is still searching for: the first dual-match victory of the season.
    
The Cowgirls captured every set but one Sunday and cruised to a 7-0 decision against the Gold Nuggets.
    
McNeese, an NCAA Division I member, is 1-5. NAIA member Xavier is 0-5. All the Nuggets' losses this season came against NCAA D-Is.
    
Xavier's most positive vibe again came from sophomore Kourtney Howell, who split sets with Tea Tvrtkovic at No. 1 singles before Tvrtkovic won in a super-tiebreaker. The scores were 7-5, 4-6, 1-0 (10-8).
    
XU freshman Amanda Materre, a three-set winner Friday against Prairie View A&M at No. 3 singles, moved up to No. 2 but lost 6-3, 6-1 to Lara Pujol. McNeese clinched the dual when Diana Pirciu defeated Jordyn Goody — a freshman playing in her hometown for the first time as a collegian — 6-0, 6-1.
    
Xavier's men and women will play Saturday at 10 a.m. against Gulf Coast Athletic Conference opponent Tougaloo and 3 p.m. against Belhaven at the University of New Orleans Tennis Center. Both Belhaven teams are ranked in the NAIA top 25, as are Xavier's men.