FORT SMITH, Ark. – #10 Northeastern State picked up their third win in a row in dramatic fashion beating #47 Southeastern Oklahoma, 5-4 on Wednesday.
 
Caitlin McCullough battled back and clinched the match for NSU on court-2 with a 6-7 (3), 6-2, 7-5 win for her seventh singles victory of the season.
 
Wednesday's match was a late addition to the schedule after the RiverHawks canceled a trip to Florida and Southeastern having an open date.  Additionally, NSU played the Savage Storm shorthanded without their top player, Molly Worden in the lineup.
 
The RiverHawks played with an entirely different doubles grouping for the first time this season but they still picked up a 2-1 edge over Southeastern.   McCullough and Easton Parker took down the Central Region's fourth ranked pairing on court-1 by a 9-7 score. Betka Gombarova and Karla Tomaic picked up NSU's second point on court-3 with an 8-5 win.
 
In singles, Val Efimenko won 7-5, 6-1 in the top-slot; Gombarova also rallied back from a 6-3 set-one loss to knock down the Savage Storm 7-5 and 6-2 for NSU's fourth point.
 
Wednesday's win gave the RiverHawks (8-5) a quality victory in the Central Region with the Savage Storm coming fifth in the latest poll and NSU at third.  Southeastern Oklahoma, with the neutral site loss fell to 5-2 this season.
 
Northeastern State will return home to host Lindenwood on Saturday.
 
Singles competition
1. Val Efimenko (NSU) def. Alexsandra Reljic (SESU) 7-5, 6-1
2. Caitlin McCullough (NSU) def. Anna Buiukian (SESU) 6-7 (3), 6-2, 7-5
3. Samantha Coquinos (SESU) def. Easton Parker (NSU) 6-1, 6-3
4. Luisa Auffarth (SESU) def. Karla Tomaic (NSU) 6-4, 6-2
5. Betka Gombarova (NSU) def. Conchi Assiego (SESU) 3-6, 7-5, 6-2
6. Maria Martinez (SESU) def. Emma Warnock (NSU) 6-1, 6-0
 
Doubles competition
1. Caitlin McCullough/Easton Parker (NSU) def. Alexsandra Reljic/Darija Catipovic (SESU) 9-7
2. Anna Buiukian/Samantha Coquinos (SESU) def. Emma Warnock/Val Efimenko (NSU) 8-5
3. Betka Gombarova/Karla Tomaic (NSU) def. Maria Martinez/Conchi Assiego (SESU) 8-5
 
Match Notes
Southeastern Oklahoma 5-2; National ranking #47; Regional ranking #5
Northeastern State 8-5; National ranking #10; Regional ranking #3