KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The LSU women’s tennis team could not overcome No. 36 Tennessee’s strong lineup and home-court advantage in Sunday’s 6-1 loss to the Lady Vols.
It was the fourth-consecutive loss for the Lady Tigers (7-5, 0-4), who have been on the road for the past six matches.
“I thought we played OK, but Tennessee was tough,” said LSU head coach Tony Minnis. “Jessica [Ferguson] came up with a good win.”
Ferguson, a senior from Houston, snapped her five-match losing streak with a 6-4, 6-2 win over No. 62 Sabita Maharaj at No. 1 singles.
Tennessee won the doubles point and continued to cruise with the exception of Ferguson’s match. Marina Chiarelli rebounded from a 0-6 first set to almost win the second set. She lost, 7-6 (5) in the second set to Tennessee’s Ashley Robards.
Camila Caliari had a tight first set but fell, 7-5, 6-3, to allow Blakeley Griffith to clinch the match for the Lady Vols.
The Lady Tigers finally return home Thursday when they play host to Texas A&M at 2 p.m.
Final score: UT 6, LSU 1
Singles
No. 1 #77 Jessica Ferguson (LSU) def. #62 Sabita Maharaj (UT), 6-4, 6-2
No. 2 #27 Tammy Encina (UT) def. Rocia Fantilli (LSU), 6-3, 6-3
No. 3 Ashley Robards (UT) def. Marina Chiarelli (LSU), 6-0, 7-6(5)
No. 4 Blakeley Griffith (UT) def. Camila Caliari (LSU), 7-5, 6-3
No. 5 Majen Immink (UT) def. Lauren Seaman (LSU), 6-3, 6-4
No. 6 Victoria Jones (UT) def. Daysi Espinal (LSU), 6-2, 6-3
Order of finish: 1, 5, 2, 4*, 3, 6
Doubles
No. 1 Encina/Schaub (UT) def. Fantilli/Seaman (LSU), 8-7(4)
No. 2 Maharaj/Robards (UT) def. Chiarelli/Ferguson (LSU), 8-1
No. 3 Immink/Kray (UT) def. Calari/! Espinal (LSU), 8-3
Order of finish: 2, 3*, 1
*Clinching point