ALBUQUERQUE, NM – – The LSU women’s tennis players were on fire Friday afternoon as they played extremely well in the New Mexico Invitational Tournament. The 22nd ranked Lady Tigers were victorious in 11 of its 15 matches against the No. 66 Colorado Buffaloes.
“The team did a great job today,” said head coach Tony Minnis. “I was really impressed with how we came through in some tight matches, and how the girls hit the clutch shots when they needed to.”
LSU senior Ana Paula Mores, who is ranked 37th in the nation, barely squeaked by Colorado’s Dominique Lemperle on court No. 1 with a score of 6-3, 2-6, 1-0 (10-8). At No. 2 singles, 20th ranked Bruna Colosio from LSU, defeated Colorado’s Jessica Garrow, 7-5, 6-3.
LSU won seven of the eight singles matches of the day. Junior Fernanda Tsucamoto, sophomore Kelly Craycraft, junior Mandy Rice, and freshmen Lauren Haddix and Erin Fedas were the other victorious Lady Tigers.
“Even though this weekend’s event is not a team competition, but an individual competition, I’m really proud of the way that the girls were cheering for and motivating each other throughout the day,” said Minnis.
In doubles, LSU’s 20th ranked duo of Mores/Colosio soundly beat Colorado’s team of Lemperle/Tracy Moore, 8-1. The Lady Tigers’ Rice/Fedas also won in doubles at No. 3 against Kathleen Hahn/Miranda Evans by the score of 8-2.
In the final two matches of the afternoon, LSU’s teams of Craycraft/Haddix and Mores/Fedas were each victorious 9-7.
The New Mexico Invitational Tournament will continue Saturday, January 15 as the Lady Tigers will face New Mexico State at 9 a.m.