BATON ROUGE — The No. 25-ranked LSU women’s tennis team earned its third straight win Friday against Auburn, 5-1, keeping itself poised to take the lead in the quest for the SEC Western Division title.
LSU (12-6, 4-5) lost the doubles point but put up five singles wins in a row to freeze Auburn’s upset hopes. With the win, LSU is still one game behind No. 23 Alabama in the battle for the West. The two come face to face Sunday at 1 p.m. at LSU’s W.T. Robinson Tennis Stadium.
“We played good in singles,” said LSU head coach Tony Minnis. “Again, we came out a little flat in doubles. Still, I think it was big getting by Auburn. They are a good team, they just don’t have the ranking right now.
“We fought hard today, but we did not play our best tennis. But, that’s good in a lot of ways.”
LSU’s Amanda Mang clinched the victory for her team with a 7-5, 6-3 win over Liz Sauerborn on court No. 4. Jessica Ferguson, Marina Chiarelli, Lauren Seaman and Daysi Espinal each added singles wins. Chiarelli, Seaman and Espinal have each won their past three matches.
LSU’s doubles problems began after Ferguson and Chiarelli won easily on court No. 2. Both of the other Lady Tiger doubles teams made comebacks against their opponent, but could not complete them.
The Lady Tigers won their first sets on all six courts. Rocio Fantill lost in three set battle to Carolina Ramirez on court No. 2.
Wins against Alabama and Arkansas next weekend would give LSU its first Western Division title since 2001.
#25 LSU 5, Auburn 2
Singles competition:
1. #62 Jessica Ferguson (LSU) def. Petra Bercik (AUB) 6-2, 7-5
2. Carolina Ramirez (AUB) def. Rocio Fantilli (LSU) 3-6, 6-3, 6-3
3. Marina Chiarelli (LSU) def. Isabel Rosenbrock (AUB) 6-2, 6-0
4. Amanda Mang (LSU) def. Liz Sauerborn (AUB) 7-6, 6-3
5. Lauren Seaman (LSU) def. Nancy Peaden (AUB) 6-2, 6-2
6. Daysi Espinal (LSU) def. Ashley Cowart (AUB) 6-2, 5-7, 1-0
Doubles competition:
1. Petra Bercik/Carolina Ramirez (AUB) def. Rocio Fantilli/Amanda Mang (LSU) 8-4
2. Marina Chiarelli/Jessica Ferguson (LSU) def. Isabel Rosenbrock/Ashley Cowart (AUB) 8-1
3. Liz Sauerborn/Sarah Suitor (AUB) def. Daysi Espinal/Camila Caliari (LSU) 8-5
Match Notes:
Auburn 6-10, 1-8
LSU 11-6, 3-5; National ranking #25
Clinchers: Doubles (1) Match (4)
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1) Singles (3,1,5,4,6,2)