GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Defending national champion Florida was too strong for LSU in Friday’s Southeastern Conference opener, handing the Lady Tigers a 7-0 loss.
The second-ranked Lady Gators jumped on LSU early with wins in all three doubles matches. The Lady Tigers were without injured junior Amanda Mang for the first time this season and Florida’s two top-25 duos took advantage.
Jessica Ferguson and Marina Chiarelli were the only pair left in tact without Mang, but Florida’s 22nd-ranked Jennifer Magley and Zerene Reyes ended that match quickly, 8-1.
LSU’s Lauren Seaman joined Rocio Fantilli in doubles for the first time in the dual season. The two could not hold off Florida’s 11th-ranked Alexis Gordon and Julie Rotondi. LSU’s Camila Caliari and Daysi Espinal fell, 8-5, to Boglarka Berecz and Nina Suvak.
All but one of Florida’s singles players was ranked in the top 100, led by No. 5 Gordon and No. 22 Magley. Gordon topped LSU’s No. 77 Ferguson, 6-3, 6-2, at No. 1 singles and Magley beat Fantilli, 6-2, 6-1, at No. 2.
Lauren Seaman hung in the first set with No. 71 Berecz but lost, 7-5. Berecz quickly wrapped up the second set, 6-0.
Seaman, Espinal and Caliari each counted their first singles losses of the dual season in the match.
LSU will get a chance to rebound from the loss in the second leg of it’s road trip. They face 48th-ranked South Carolina at 2 p.m. Sunday.