NACOGDOCHES, Texas – For the second time in the last eight days Northeastern State's tennis program has knocked off a NCAA Division I foe, beating Stephen F. Austin 4-3 on their home courts on Sunday afternoon.  The win was the back half on a strange doubleheader for the RiverHawks where they opened the day with a 7-0 loss to Tyler Junior College.
 
Last weekend NSU took down Missouri State 5-2 in Springfield and are now 3-2 overall this season.
  
In the opener, the RiverHawks suffered its first sweep in the last 29 matches against a top-ranked and reigning NJCAA Champions Tyler JC (2-1) that has all six singles players inside the national top-30.  
 
The Apaches made quick work of NSU in doubles, and picked up the overall point with the RiverHawks only winning three games.
 
Northeastern State never did recover and fell in all six singles positions.  On court one, Tatjana Stoll did battle with the top junior college player in the nation but fell 6-3, 6-4 for only her third loss this season; all three have come against ranked players.
 
With the quick turnaround to play the Ladyjacks, Northeastern State coughed up a potential 1-0 doubles advantage and later fell behind 3-0 dropping its six and two singles spot. 
 
With their backs to the wall and facing an overall match point to SFA, the RiverHawks slowly pecked off wins.  Chantal Nosievici won 7-5, 6-4 on court five then Mayra Jovic rallied back from a 6-2 loss in set one and strung together two 6-4 set wins to take court three.  Stoll followed with a three-set win on court one to tie the match at 3-3.  Betka Gombarova finished the NSU rally on court four winning 7-5, 6-4 to keep SFA winless through their first five matches.
 
The RiverHawks will be off until March 2 where they will host Southeastern Oklahoma in non-conference play.
 
Singles competition
1. #1 Tamara Arnold (TJC) def. #23 Tatjana Stoll (NSU) 6-3, 6-4
2. #6 Maria Genovese (TJC) def. Molly Worden (NSU) 6-1, 6-2
3. #3 Kalani Soli (TJC) def. Betka Gombarova (NSU) 6-2, 6-1
4. #10 Yuna Ito (TJC) def. Chantal Nosievici (NSU) 6-0, 6-4
5. #29 Mekeila Erspamer (TJC) def. Easton Parker (NSU) 7-5, 6-3
6. #26 Millie Khoury (TJC) def. Karla Tomaic (NSU) 6-3, 6-3
 
Doubles competition
1. Maria Genovese/Kalani Soli (TJC) def. Easton Parker/Molly Worden (NSU) 6-0
2. Tamara Arnold/Yuna Ito (TJC) def. Tatjana Stoll/Betka Gombarova (NSU) 6-1
3. Mekeila Erspamer/Millie Khoury (TJC) def. Karla Tomaic/Chantal Nosievici (NSU) 6-2
 
Match Notes
Tyler Junior College 2-1; National ranking #1
Northeastern State 2-2; National ranking #16
Tyler JC ranking is ITA/NJCAA
 
Singles competition
1. #23 Tatjana Stoll (NSU) def. Guilarte, Gabi (SFA) 3-6, 6-2, 7-5
2. Payne, Sian (SFA) def. Molly Worden (NSU) 6-1, 6-4
3. Mayra Jovic (NSU) def. Tiboldi, Darinka (SFA) 2-6, 6-4, 6-4
4. Betka Gombarova (NSU) def. Kamal, Nida (SFA) 7-5, 6-4
5. Chantal Nosievici (NSU) def. Cerdan, Armelle (SFA) 7-5, 6-4
6. Ljubic, Kaja (SFA) def. Easton Parker (NSU) 6-1, 6-0
 
Doubles competition
1. Tiboldi, Darinka/Kamal, Nida (SFA) def. Molly Worden/Mayra Jovic (NSU) 7-6 (7-3)
2. Guilarte, Gabi/Payne, Sian (SFA) def. Easton Parker/Tatjana Stoll (NSU) 6-1
3. Karla Tomaic/Chantal Nosievici (NSU) def. Ljubic, Kaja/Cerdan, Armelle (SFA) 6-4
 
Match Notes
Northeastern State 3-2; National ranking #16
Stephen F. Austin 0-5