NATCHITOCHES, La. — Xavier University of Louisiana's Mariia Borodii was her usual stellar self, winning in doubles and singles, but Northwestern State earned a 6-1 victory Saturday in the first-ever meeting between these tennis teams.
     Borodii and Farah Baklouti won 6-2 on the first doubles court against Maria Skyba and Polina Mutel, then Borodii beat Skyba 6-3, 6-3 at No. 1 singles. But the Lady Demons (6-1) won every other set.
     Northwestern State clinched the doubles point when Judit Castillo and Ema Dancetovic defeated Yi Chen Pao and Angela Charles-Alfred 6-4 on the third court, then clinched the dual when Mutel beat Charlene Goreau 6-4, 6-2 at No. 2 singles.
     Borodii, the ITA NAIA National Rookie of the Year last season, is 19-1 all-time in dual-match singles.
     The Gold Nuggets — ranked third in the NAIA and a national semifinalist last season — are 2-3 this season, 1-3 against NCAA Division I opponents. Next for XULA will be a 3 p.m. Wednesday dual against another DI, Grambling, at a neutral site — Southern University in Baton Rouge, La.