NASHVILLE, Tenn. — No. 19-ranked LSU’s nine-match win streak was snapped Saturday in the SEC Tournament semifinals by second-ranked Florida, 4-1, at Vanderbilt’s Brownlee O. Currey Tennis Center.
Lady Tiger senior Jessica Ferguson was leading Florida’s Alexis Gordon, the No. 1-ranked singles player in the nation, by a score of 3-6, 6-2, 5-1 when Julie Rotundi clinched the match for the Gators on court No. 6 over Daysi Espinal. Ferguson and Gordon were tied in the game at 30-30 when the match was suspended.
“That was a tough loss to swallow,” said LSU head coach Tony Minnis. “For Jessica to be up at match-point with the best player in the country and for Lauren (Seaman) to win says a lot.”
The Lady Tigers (18-6, 6-5 SEC) lost the doubles point and had two early losses in singles. Amanda Mang fell, 6-1, 6-1 to Lindsay Dawaf on court No. 4. Marina Chiarelli lost for the first time in 10 outings to 99th-ranked Boglarka Berecz on court No. 3. Chiarelli had not lost a set since March 21.
Sophomore Lauren Seaman won her eighth-consecutive match over Florida’s Nina Suvak on court No. 5 to put LSU on the board.
As Ferguson went into her third set with Gordon, two matches remained close. Rocio Fantilli lost her first set on court No. 2 and was down at match point against No. 20-ranked Jennifer Magley, but came back to bring her second set score to 5-5.
Espinal was leading, 4-3 in her second set. She played through muscle cramps but could not fend off No. 74-ranked Rotundi.
The first-seeded Lady Gators are the defending SEC Tournament and NCAA Tournament Champions. The win over LSU brings their total to 39 consecutive wins, dating back to March of 2003.
LSU was playing in the semifinals for just the second time in SEC tournament history. The team’s 18 wins are the most since 1997. With one match left in the regular season, this year’s Lady Tigers already have the second-best record of any Minnis-coached team at LSU.
The Lady Tigers return home next Friday for a 4 p.m. meeting with No. 15 Tulane. Senior Day ceremonies will be held before LSU begins its push to keep its in state win-streak going for a 10th-consecutive season.
#2 (1) Florida def. #19 (5) LSU, 4-1
Doubles
1. #8 Gordon/Rotondi (UF) led Fantilli/Seaman (LSU), 7-2 susp.
2. #20 Magley/Reyes (UF) def. Chiarelli/Ferguson (LSU), 8-2
3. Berecz/Suvak (UF) def. Espinal/Mang (LSU), 8-2
Order of finish: 2, 3*
Singles
1. #50 Jessica Ferguson (LSU) led #1 Alexis Gordon (UF), 3-6, 6-2, 5-1 susp.
2. #20 Jennifer Magley (UF) led Rocio Fantilli (LSU), 6-1, 5-5 susp.
3. #99 Boglarka Berecz (UF) def. Marina Chiarelli (LSU), 6-3, 6-3
4. Lindsay Dawaf (UF) def. Amanda Mang (LSU), 6-1, 6-1
5. Lauren Seaman (LSU) def. Nina Suvak (UF), 6-4, 6-3
6. #74 Julie Rotondi (UF) def. Daysi Espinal (LSU), 6-4, 6-4
Order of finish: 4, 3, 5, 6*