NASHVILLE Tenn. — LSU knocked off 13th-ranked Vanderbilt, 5-2, on Sunday to earn its first SEC road win of the season.
The win was a convincing recovery for the No. 14-ranked Tigers (10-2, 2-2), who suffered their worst loss of the season Friday at Kentucky.
“They guys knew they had something to prove after what everyone felt was a bad performance in our last match,” said LSU head coach Jeff Brown.
LSU’s Ken Skupski and Peter Richman sealed the doubles point for the Tigers with a 9-8 (5) win over Vanderbilt’s 23rd-ranked Greg Sossaman and Zach Dailey.
“We were able to get the doubles point after falling behind 5-2 in the tiebreaker,” Brown said.
Skupski, the reigning SEC player of the week, downed another high-ranked opponent at No. 1 singles. The 58th-ranked freshman beat 16th-ranked Chad Harris, 6-4, 6-4. It was Skupski’s third win in three weeks over a top-50 opponent.
Bryan Fisher polished off Matt Lockin at No. 4 singles to stretch LSU’s lead to 3-0.
“We got great performances from (Fisher and Skupski),” Brown said. “Ken really lights up in big matches and he did it again today. He was able to beat Chad Harris, one of the most mentally tough players in the country, on his home court.”
Vanderbilt closed in on the Tigers with wins on courts No. 2 and No. 3. No. 34-ranked Scott Brown beat LSU’s Jason Hazley, 7-5, 6-4 and No. 47-ranked Dailey beat Peter Richman, 6-0, 6-3.
Sebastian Rutka clinched the match for the Tigers at No. 5 singles despite losing his first set. He defeated Lew Smith, 5-7, 6-3, 6-3.
Cory Ross iced the win with a victory over Greg Sossaman on court No. 6. Ross, a senior, has won his past seven matches.
“I think our guys showed how determined they are to not let this season spiral,” Brown said.
The Tigers return home next weekend to host second-ranked Ole Miss Friday at 4 p.m.
#14 LSU 5, #13 Vanderbilt 2
Doubles
1. Harris/Brown (VU) def. #20 Fisher/Hazley (LSU), 8-5
2. Richman/Skupski (LSU) def. #23 Sossaman/Dailey (VU), 9-8 (5)
3. Ross/Rutka (LSU) def. Smith/Sachs (VU), 8-5
Order of finish: 3, 1, 2*
Singles
1. #58 Ken Skupski (LSU) def. #16 Chad Harris (VU), 6-4, 6-4
2. #34 Scott Brown (VU) def. Jason Hazley (LSU), 7-5, 6-4
3. #37 Zach Dailey (VU) def. Peter Richman (LSU), 6-0, 6-3
4. Bryan Fisher (LSU) def. Matt Lockin (VU), 6-4, 6-4
5. Sebastian Rutka (LSU) def. Lew Smith (VU), 5-7, 6-3, 6-3
6. Cory Ross (LSU) def. Greg Sossaman (VU), 6-3, 6-4
Order of finish: 4, 1, 3, 2, 5*, 6