TAHLEQUAH – Northeastern State won its home opener Thursday at the NSU Tennis Complex 5-2 over Oklahoma Baptist.

The RiverHawks took the doubles point by winning the first top and No. 3 courts and forced an extra game on No. 2.

In singles, NSU took the bottom four courts. Vera Carvalho swept at No. 6 while Chiara Cernelutti and Belinda Jayaprakash made quick work of their counterparts. Maria Popova claimed the win on No. 3 by winning the second set in six games.

Carnelutti and Carvalho won both their doubles match and in singles. Oklahoma Baptist (1-6) claimed the top two singles flights.

"At the bottom of the lineup we just kept our composure real well, we stayed within our zones," head coach Tim McLane said. "A lot of times you got a bigger crowd and it's the first match of the year sometimes the nerve can get to you. We fought some of that in doubles, but we did a good job of regrouping and taking care of our business for the most part in singles."

The win was the first of the season for the RiverHawks (1-2) and the first for McLane at NSU.

"It's always nice to get the first win out of the way now we can settle down and we got the monkey off our back a bit."

Northeastern State is back in action on Monday, March 8, in Siloam Springs taking on John Brown. First serve is scheduled for 2 p.m.