NEW ORLEANS — In a classic Louisiana battle, the 25th-ranked LSU women’s tennis team outlasted in-state rival Tulane for a 4-3 victory on Wednesday in New Orleans.
The win improved LSU to 13-6 on the year while Tulane dropped to 7-11. The win is the third straight for the Lady Tigers, who improved to 26-2 all tim against the Green Wave.
Four matches were forced to a deciding third set, with Tulane winning three of the four. However, the Lady Tigers’ Rocio Fantilli rallied against Nancy Kockott, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4, to clinch the match for LSU.
“This match was a war,” said LSU coach Tony Minnis. “I thought we played pretty well today and were pushed to the limit by a good team. I give a lot of credit to the way Tulane fought us on every court.”
The Green Wave picked up three-set victories at Nos. 1, 2 and 4 for each of their three points in the match. Anna Monhartova, ranked 22nd, persevered for a 6-4, 2-6, 6-1 win over No. 23 Bruna Colosio at the top spot.
On court two, Julie Morris came back from one-set down against Lauren Haddix to score a 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 victory. Moments later, Joyce Bergman clinched a 2-6, 7-5, 6-2 victory over Tami Botts at the No. 4 singles position for the Green Wave’s third point.
LSU used its depth to score easy singles victories from Fernanda Tsucamoto and Mandy Rice at Nos. 5 and 6, respectively. Tsucamoto beat Maiko Cook, 6-2, 6-2, while Rice defeated Olga Mikhailova, 6-1, 7-6 (0).
The Lady Tigers also picked up the crucial doubles point as they won at Nos. 1 and 2. Colosio and Fantilli beat Morris and Bergman, 8-5, on court one.
Tsucamoto and Amy McIlhaney clinched the point with an 8-6 victory at No. 2 over Kockott and Mikhailova.
LSU 4, Tulane 3
Singles
No. 1 – Anna Monhartova (TU) def. Bruna Colosio (LSU), 6-4, 2-6, 6-1
No. 2 – Julie Morris (TU) def. Lauren Haddix (LSU), 3-6, 6-4, 6-4
No. 3 – Rocio Fantilli (LSU) def. Nancy Kockott (TU), 3-6, 6-1, 6-4
No. 4 – Joyce Bergman (TU) def. Tami Botts (LSU), 2-6, 7-5, 6-2
No. 5 – Fernanda Tsucamoto (LSU) def. Maiko Cook (TU), 6-2, 6-2
No. 6 – Mandy Rice (LSU) def. Olga Mikhailova (TU), 6-1, 7-6 (0)
Doubles
No. 1 – Colosio-Fantilli (LSU) def. Morris-Bergman (TU), 8-5
No. 2 – Tsucamoto-McIlhaney (LSU) def. Kockott-Mikhailova (TU), 8-6
No. 3 – Monhartova-Axsater (TU) def. Haddix-Botts (LSU), 8-3