NATCHITOCHES – It was a day to celebrate for more than one reason at the Jack Fisher Tennis Complex, as Northwestern State not only honored its seniors but also clinched the Southland Conference regular season title with a gritty 4-3 win over Southeastern on Monday afternoon.
“I couldn’t be prouder of this group,” said head coach Marcos Morelli. “From day one, we committed to fighting for each other and focusing on what we could control. We trusted the process, and today, all that hard work paid off. Good things came because we earned them.”
This marks the fourth Southland regular season title for the Lady Demons in the past 15 years — all coming under the guidance of longtime assistant coach Patric DuBois.
The Lady Demons (9-6, 8-0) started the day celebrating seniors Ayu Ishibashi and Tjasa Klevisar.
Early doubles action seized the first point for Northwestern State, sweeping the opposing competition.
The pair of Sofi Garcia and Ishibashi continue to dominate this season following a 6-1 match over SLU’s Taisia Bolsova and Claudia di Leonardo.
The Lady Demons clinched the doubles point with a Maria Farina and Klevisar masterclass, beating the Lions’ Bente Bierma and Panatchakom Suanarsa 6-4.
The match between Zoi Spyrou and Honoka Umeda went unfinished with the duo leading 4-3 since the point was already secured.
Southeastern (12-8, 3-6) capitalized on a retirement by Northwestern State’s Ishibashi to even the score at 1.
Garcia dominated at the No. 6 spot, blanking Bolsova in straight sets with a commanding 6-0, 6-0 victory to give the lead back to the Demons.
Klevisar extended the lead for the Demons after a near-perfect 6-1, 6-1 set over Suanarsa at the No. 2 spot.
“We take it day by day. Our focus is laser-sharp—only on the opponent directly in front of us,” says Klevisar. “We stay true to our game, to what we represent.”
Umeda kept the momentum rolling for the Lady Demons, dispatching Southeastern’s Di Leonardo 6-4, 6-2 to extend the lead at the No. 3 spot, clinching the match for the Lady Demons.
“I’m beyond thrilled with what we’ve accomplished,” says Umeda. “My commitment remains the same – to continue to get better.”
With the match already secured for Northwestern State, Farina retired during her singles match against Darder. After dropping the first set 2-6, she led 5-3 in the second before being forced to retire.
In a hard-fought three-set battle at the No. 1 spot, Southeastern’s Gomez edged out Spyrou, claiming a 7-5, 2-6, 10-1 victory to close out the match.
“We competed with everything we had today,” says Morelli. “Their commitment to recovery was exceptional—they put themselves in prime condition for this match. This was a defining moment for us, and I couldn’t be more proud of how they rose to the challenge.”
With the regular season title already clinched, the Lady Demons will head to Nacogdoches on Saturday for a makeup match against Stephen F. Austin — a contest originally postponed earlier in the season. Set for an 11 a.m. start, the matchup carries final seeding implications: a win secures the outright title for Northwestern State, while a loss would result in a shared championship with the second-place Ladyjacks.
RESULTS
Northwestern State 4, Southeastern 3
Women’s Tennis at Natchitoches, Louisiana – Jack Fisher Tennis Complex
Singles
Leana Gomez (SLU) def. Zoi Spyrou (NSU) 7-5, 2-6, 10-1
Tjasa Klevisar (NSU) def. Panatchakom Suanarsa (SLU) 6-1, 6-1
Honoka Umeda (NSU) def. Claudia di Leonardo (SLU) 6-4, 6-2
Aitana Darder (SLU) def. Maria Farina (NSU) 2-6, 5-3 ret
Bente Bierma (SLU) def. Ayu Ishibashi (NSU) 6-1, ret
Sofi Garcia (NSU) def. Taisia Bolsova (SLU) 6-0, 6-0
Doubles
Maria Farina/Tjasa Klevisar (NSU) def. Bente Bierma/Panatchakom Suanarsa (SLU) 6-4
Zoi Spyrou/Honoka Umeda (NSU) vs. Aitana Darder/Leana Gomez (SLU) 4-3 uf
Sofi Garcia/Ayu Ishibashi (NSU) def. Taisia Bolsova/Claudia di Leonardo (SLU) 6-1
Match Notes
Northwestern State (9-6, 8-0)
Southeastern (12-8, 3-6)
Orders of finish: Doubles (3, 1, uf) Singles (5, 6, 2, 3, 4, 1)
Head coach Marcos Morelli celebrates with the Lady Demons as they clinched the regular season SLC title on Monday following a 4-3 victory over Southeastern.
CREDIT: Chris Reich, NSU Photographic Services
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