WILLIAMSBURG, Va. — The LSU women’s tennis team faltered in its opening competition of the spring season on Friday, as the Lady Tigers fell in four of its five singles matches versus the Michigan Wolverines in the William and Mary Tribe Classic.
“We just didn’t play very well today,” said LSU head coach Tony Minnis. “We didn’t play with any fire or enthusiasm and its hard to win matches when that happens. We just need to regroup as a team and come out ready to play against Penn State tomorrow.”
LSU’s 87th-ranked Tami Botts earned the Lady Tigers’ lone victory of the competition by defeating the Wolverine’s Kavitha Tipirneni, 3-6, 6-2, 6-0, in the No. 1 singles match. With the victory, Botts improved to an overall record of 6-3 this season.
Michigan won each of the first four matches in straight sets. On court No. 2, the Wolverine’s Christina Nolan dropped LSU’s Rocio Fantilli, 6-1, 6-2, while Christine Nolan defeated the Lady Tigers’ Amanda Mang, 6-1, 7-6(5), on court No. 3.
LSU’s Amy McIlhaney and Perri Budd were also downed in the singles competition by scores of 6-3, 6-1, and 6-0, 6-1, respectively.
The LSU women’s tennis team will look to rebound from Friday’s disappointing performance on Saturday as the Lady Tigers face both William & Mary and Penn State in the William & Mary Tribe Classic.