NASHVILLE — Lauren Seaman’s win at No. 5 singles capped a 5-hour marathon match that moved the LSU women’s tennis team into the semifinals of the Southeastern Conference Tournament for only the second time with a 4-3 victory over 23rd-ranked Tennessee here Friday.
The win, the 10th in the last 11 matches for the Lady Tigers, improved 19th-ranked LSU’s record to 17-6 overall. The Lady Tigers will face top-seeded and undefeated Florida in the semifinals on Saturday.
“All the credit goes to the players, they fought hard and played with a great deal of intensity,” LSU coach Tony Minnis said. “We were down in doubles and came back to win the point and that was a huge momentum boost for us.
“We kept our composure in singles, even when we had our backs against the wall. The players never gave up. I’m very proud of their performance.”
With the match tied at 3-3, LSU’s Seaman clinched the victory for the Tigers with a 3-set victory over Majen Immink at No. 5, 6-3, 6-7, 7-6 (7). The win, the eighth in a row for Seaman, sends the Lady Tigers to the semifinals in the conference tournament for the first time since 1995.
“Tennessee had match point on us at No. 5,” Minnis said. “Lauren just kept battling back and finally picked up the win.”
The comeback by Seaman was her second heroic performance of the day as she teamed with Rocio Fantilli to help clinch the doubles point for the Lady Tigers with a 9-7 come-from-behind win over Immink and Tammy Encina at No. 1. Seaman and Fantilli trailed 7-1 in doubles before rallying to win eight straight games to claim the victory.
“That win at No. 1 doubles was a big boost for us,” Minnis said. “To be down 7-1 and looking like that match was over, our girls up their intensity level and did a good job of staying focused and taking it one point at a time to get back in the match.”
The Tigers clinched the doubles point and some much-needed early momentum at No. 3 when Daysi Espinal and Amanda Mang combined to post a 9-7 win over Robards and Kray.
LSU 4, Tennessee 3
Doubles
No. 1 Fantilli-Seaman (LSU) def. Immink-Encina, 9-7
No. 2 Maharaj-Schaub (UT) def. Chiarelli-Ferguson, 8-6
No. 3 Espinal-Mang (LSU) def. Robards-Kray, 9-7
Singles
No. 1 Tammy Encina (UT) def. Jessica Ferguson, 6-2, 6-4
No. 2 Rocio Fantilli (LSU) def. Sabita Maharaj, 6-4, 6-2
No. 3 Marina Chiarelli (LSU) def. Ashley Robards, 7-6, 6-4
No. 4 Blakeley Griffith (UT) def. Amanda Mang, 7-5, 6-4
No. 5 Lauren Seaman (LSU) def. Majen Immink, 6-3, 7-6, 7-6
No. 6 Victoria Jones (UT) def. Camila Caliari, 6-3, 6-1