BATON ROUGE — The LSU women’s tennis team earned its third victory in two days on Sunday, as the Lady Tigers knocked off the Purdue Lady Boilermakers, 5-2, at home at the W.T. “Dub” Robinson Tennis Stadium.
“I was really pleased with the way that we played today,” said LSU head coach Tony Minnis. “We came out and competed very hard and I can honestly say that each one of our girls gave everything that they had. Purdue is a good team and this was a big win for us early in the season.”
LSU took control of the match in doubles play with an early victory on court No. 3 by the team of Tami Botts and Perri Budd. The Lady Tigers’ combination overwhelmed Purdue’s Lara Burgarello and Melissa Iqbal by a count of 8-1.
After a Lady Boilermaker victory in the No. 2 doubles match, LSU’s talented duo comprised of All-American Bruna Colosio and sophomore Rocio Fantilli clinched the Lady Tigers’ first point of the Sunday’s contest by defeating Purdue’s Missy Wright and Gretchen Haynor. Colosio and Fantilli earned their first doubles victory of the season with the 8-6 win.
LSU improved its overall record to 3-0 on the season, while Purdue dropped to a mark of 0-2. Purdue’s first loss of the season was to sixth-ranked Tennessee, while the Lady Tigers recorded their opening two wins against Centenary and Southern on Saturday.
On court No. 4, LSU’s Amanda Mang solidified the Lady Tiger victory by defeating Purdue’s Amy Walgenbach in singles play, 6-4, 6-2. Mang, a freshman from New Orleans, improved her dual-match record to 3-0 with the win.
LSU’s 87th-ranked Botts also kept her winning streak alive on Sunday, as the Lady Tiger senior notched her sixth-straight singles victory. She outlasted Purdue’s Haynor on court No. 2 in three sets, 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-4. Botts improved to an impressive 11-3 overall record this season.
The Lady Tigers’ Fantilli and Amy McIlhaney were also victorious in singles play. Fantilli dropped Burgarello, 6-4, 6-2, on court No. 3, while McIlhaney cruised past the Lady Boilermakers’ Lynsey Fick on court No. 5, 6-4, 6-0.
The 27th-ranked LSU women’s tennis team will next be in action on Feb. 3, as the Lady Tigers play host to the Louisiana-Monroe Lady Indians at 1 p.m. at the W.T. “Dub” Robinson Tennis Stadium.
#27 LSU def. Purdue, 5-2.
Doubles
1. Colosio/Fantilli (LSU) def. Missy Wright/Haynor (PU), 8-6.
2. Melissa Woods/Fick (PU) def. Mang/McIlhaney (LSU), 8-5.
3. Botts/Budd (LSU) def. Burgarello/Iqbal (PU), 8-1.
Singles
1. Melissa Iqbal (PU) def. Bruna Colosio (LSU), 4-6, 7-6(6), 7-5.
2. #87 Tami Botts (LSU) def. Gretchen Haynor (PU), 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-4.
3. Rocio Fantilli (LSU) def. Lara Burgarello (PU), 6-4, 6-2.
4. Amanda Mang (LSU) def. Amy Walgenbach (PU), 6-4, 6-2.
5. Amy McIlhaney (LSU) def. Lynsey Fick (PU), 6-4, 6-0.
6. Shawna Zuccarini (PU) def. Perri Budd (LSU), 6-1, 3-6, 6-4.
Records: LSU 3-0, Purdue 0-2