BATON ROUGE — The LSU women’s tennis team knocked off the 24th-ranked Kentucky Wildcats Tuesday in a five-hour Southeastern Conference match at “Dub” Robinson Stadium. The Lady Tigers outscored the Wildcats 6-3 in the victory.
“We played extremely well today,” said LSU head coach Tony Minnis. “I feel as if we played some of the best tennis in today’s match that we have played all season. I also believe that we finally came together as a team against this good Kentucky squad.”
The 31st-ranked Lady Tigers have won two consecutive SEC matches and improved their overall record to 10-5. LSU has a 2-4 conference record after this week’s wins over Alabama (8-1) and Kentucky (6-3).
The 23rd-ranked Wildcats drop to 8-7 on the season and a 2-5 record in SEC play. The all-time series record between LSU and Kentucky is knotted up at 10-apiece. The Wildcats had been victorious in their previous two matches against the Lady Tigers.
After singles play LSU led Kentucky, 4-2. On court No. 1, 13th-ranked Bruna Colosio defeated the Wildcats’ Carolina Mayorga, 6-0, 6-2. The win improved Colosio’s overall record to 25-6 and extended her winning streak to six matches in a row.
The Lady Tigers’ 64th-ranked Ana Paula Mores was also victorious against Kentucky. Mores battled 87th-ranked Brooke Skeen in a three-set match that lasted nearly three hours on court No. 2. Mores won the match, 6-3, 5-7, 6-4, and improved her 1999-00 overall record 24-6.
Also winning in singles play for LSU were sophomore Tami Botts and freshman Lauren Haddix. Botts was victorious over Amy Trefethen on court No. 4, 6-2, 6-4, while Haddix handily defeated Jill Buckley, 6-2, 6-2, on court No. 5.
“I’m proud of each and every one of our girls,” Minnis said. “They all gave 110% in today’s matches and we had a good shot to win on every court against a very talented Kentucky team.”
LSU clinched the match with an 8-0 win at No. 1 doubles. The 16th-ranked duo of Colosio and Mores was victorious over Kentucky’s 34th-ranked combination of Mayorga and Sarah Witten.
The Lady Tigers and Wildcats then split the remaining two doubles matches to bring the final score to 6-3. Kentucky scored its’ third point on court No. 2, while LSU’s doubles pair of Haddix
The LSU Lady Tigers will next be in action March 26, against the 20th-ranked Tennessee Volunteers in Knoxville, Tenn.
LSU: 6, KENTUCKY: 3
SINGLES
No. 1 #13 Bruna Colosio (LSU) def. Carolina Mayorga (UK), 6-0, 6-2.
No. 2 #64 Ana Paula Mores (LSU) def. T#87 Brooke Skeen (UK), 6-3, 5-7, 6-4.
No. 3 Sarah Witten (UK) def. Fernanda Tsucamoto (LSU), 5-7, 6-2, 6-3.
No. 4 Tami Botts (LSU) def. Amy Trefethen (UK), 6-2, 6-4.
No. 5 Lauren Haddix (LSU) def. Jill Buckley (UK), 6-2, 6-2.
No. 6 Lauren Rookledge (UK) def. Mandy Rice (LSU), 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-2.
DOUBLES
No. 1 #16 Colosio/Mores (LSU) def. #34 Mayorga/Witten (UK), 8-0.
No. 2 #46 Leigh Bradwell/Skeen (UK) def. Tsucamoto/McIlhaney (LSU), 8-4.
No. 3 Haddix/Botts (LSU) def. Rookledge/Buckley (UK), 9-8(4).