LAS VEGAS — Senior Tami Botts and freshman Amanda Mang of the LSU women’s tennis team advanced to the second round of singles play at the UNLV Invitational on Friday.
The Lady Tigers’ doubles team comprised of Rocio Fantilli and Mang also moved on at the Frank and Vicki Fertitta Tennis Stadium in Las Vegas, Nev.
“I think that our girls played well out there today,” said LSU head coach Tony Minnis. “It was good to see Amanda get a win in her first match and the doubles team did a good job as well. It will be very interesting to see how they play tomorrow.”
Botts, a native of Ashland, Ore., defeated UNLV’s 100th-ranked Agnieszka Abram in straight sets on Friday, 6-4, 6-2. With the win, the Lady Tiger advanced to the second round of competition where she is scheduled to face Valerie Vlades of Minnesota at 9 a.m. on Saturday.
Also moving on to the second round of play for the Lady Tigers was Mang. LSU’s freshman from Atlanta, Ga., recorded a victory over Minnesota’s Michaela Havelkova on Friday when Havelkova retired in the second set due to an injury. Mang was leading the second set, 6-5, after dropping the first to Havelkova, 7-5. Mang will face the home-town favorite Tracie Chong of UNLV in the second round on Saturday. The match is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m.
In the doubles competition, LSU’s combination of Fantilli/Mang eked by Oklahoma State’s pair of Dolman and Olszewska in a tiebreak, 9-8 (5). With the win, the Lady Tigers advanced UNLV’s tandem of Janus and Abram Saturday’s Flight I Doubles championship match.
The LSU women’s tennis team will resume play in the UNLV Invitational at 9 a.m. on Saturday in Las Vegas, Nev., at the Frank and Vicki Fertitti Tennis Stadium.
Flight I Singles
(First Round)
Katia Vasylyeva (OSU) def. Rocio Fantilli (LSU), 6-4, 6-2.
Tami Botts (LSU) def. #100 Agnieszka Abram (UNLV), 6-4, 6-2.
Flight II Singles
(First Round)
Amanda Mang (LSU) def. Michaela Havelkova (UM), 5-7, 6-5, ret.
Flight III Singles
(First Round)
Andrea Rose (UM) def. Perri Budd (LSU), 6-1, 6-1.
Flight I Doubles
(First Round)
Mang/Fantilli (LSU) def. Dolman/Olszewska (OSU), 9-8(5).
Flight II Doubles
(First Round)
Thomas/Watts (Minn) def. Botts/Budd (LSU), 8-5.