BATON ROUGE — The 23rd-ranked LSU women’s tennis team edged the No. 37 Texas A&M Aggies Sunday afternoon, 5-4, after trailing by two points going into the doubles competition.
“This was a huge win for our team,” said head coach Tony Minnis. “They had beaten us in our last two matchups by the same score of 5-4. I guess today was our turn to beat them in a close 5-4 match.”
The Aggies led the Lady Tigers, 4-2, after singles play, and only needed to win one of the three doubles matches to pick up their third victory of the season.
LSU denied Texas A&M the win in doubles as the Lady Tiger’s No. 2 team of junior Fernanda Tsucamoto and sophomore Amy McIlhaney clinched the comeback victory over the Aggie’s by defeating Kathryn Scott and Cassie Haas, 8-6.
“I was very impressed with the way that our girls came out and played doubles with a sense of determination and urgency that is needed in order to be successful against great teams,” Minnis said. “In singles, the team seemed to be a little complacent, but in doubles they turned it on.”
LSU won on courts No. 1 and No. 2 in singles play, while the Aggies were victorious in No.’s 3-6. 20th-ranked Bruna Colosio improved her overall record to 17-5 on the season with a 6-3, 6-1 win over Olivia Karlikova in No. 1 singles.
LSU’s senior captain, 37th-ranked Ana Paula Mores, was victorious in her seventh-straight singles match as she was dropped Martina Nederastova on court No. 2, 7-6(3), 6-0. Mores’ overall record is 17-4 on the season.
“Ana and Bruna are playing outstanding tennis right now,” said Minnis. “It is great to see them compete at the level that they are, and to have fun doing what they love.”
In doubles play, the Lady Tigers won on courts No. 1 and No. 3 to tie the match at four points apiece. The 20th-ranked duo of Colosio/Mores defeated Texas A&M’s pair of Lisa Dingwall/Nederastova, 8-4 in No. 1 doubles, while the Aggie’s team of Leah Killen/Eva Marcial fell to LSU’s Lauren Haddix/Kelly Craycraft, 8-2.
It was shortly afterwards when LSU clinched the victory over Texas A&M on court No. 2 with Tsucamoto/McIlhaney’s 8-6 win over Scott/Haas. The loss dropped Texas A&M to 2-2 on the season.
LSU returns to action Feb. 19, as its plays host the 60th-ranked Houston Cougars. The match will begin at 1 p.m. at the “Dub” Robinson Tennis Stadium.
LSU: 5, Texas A&M: 4
SINGLES
No. 1 #20 Bruna Colosio (LSU) def. Olivia Karlikova (A&M), 6-3, 6-1.
No. 2 #37 Ana Paula Mores (LSU) def. Martina Nederastova (A&M), 7-6(3), 6-0.
No. 3 Lisa Dingwall (A&M) def. Fernanda Tsucamoto (LSU), 6-2, 5-7, 6-2.
No. 4 Cassie Haas (A&M) def. Tami Botts (LSU), 6-3, 3-6, 6-4.
No. 5 Leah Killen (A&M) def. Lauren Haddix (LSU), 5-7, 7-5, 6-1.
No. 6 Kathryn Scott (A&M) def. Amy McIlhaney (LSU), 6-1, 6-3.
DOUBLES
No. 1 #20 Colosio/Mores (LSU) def. Dingwall/Nederastova (A&M), 8-4.
No. 2 Tsucamoto/McIlhaney (LSU) def. Scott/Haas (A&M), 8-6.
No. 3 Haddix/Craycraft (LSU) def. Killen/Marcial (A&M), 8-2.