COLLEGE STATION, Texas — The LSU women’s tennis team started out the ITA Southwest Regionals in impressive fashion, winning every match they played in day one of the tournament.
In the singles qualifying bracket, both Camila Caliari and Staten Spencer won two matches. Caliari defeated Carmen Abeaboeru of Texas A&M Community College, 6-1, 6-3, in her first match and then took a three-set win over Texas State’s Tina Klemenc, 2-6, 6-3, 6-1.
Spencer lost the first game of her first match to Yolandi Terblanche of Texas State, 0-6. She was then able to fight back and take the next two matches by scores of 7-6 and 6-3. Her second match was less difficult, and she picked up a two-set win over Ingrid Stockinger of North Texas, 6-1, 6-1.
Coach Tony Minnis said he is happy these two players were able to get the experience they did today.
“Camila has been injured,” he said, “and it’s really good for her to be able to get this type of match experience. And with Staten losing a game 0-6 and fighting back to win the match, that’s a great thing for a freshman to gain confidence. They both should have a lot more confidence after the way they played today.”
LSU’s doubles teams were successful as well in day one. The team of Daysi Espinal and Amanda Mang defeated Texas A&M’s Tiffany Clifford and Marisa Druss, 8-3, and Lauren Seaman and Spencer beat Houston’s Biljana Dimovska and Sacha Grumbs, 8-3. The other doubles team of Marina Chiarelli and Tiffany Tucker earned a first-round bye and will have their first match tomorrow, joining the other two teams.
In singles, Spencer and Caliari each need one more win in the qualifying round to advance to the main draw, where the rest of the team’s singles players are set to compete. Espinal, Mang, Chiarelli, Seaman and Tucker will all begin singles play tomorrow.
Play in the singles qualifying round will resume at 9 a.m. tomorrow with the eight players earning wins moving to the main draw. Matches in the main draw begin at noon, and doubles matches will take place at 3:30 p.m.
SOUTHWEST REGIONALS — Day one results
Singles
Qualifying bracket
(Round of 64)
Camila Caliari (LSU) def. Carmen Abeaboeru (TA&M), 6-1, 6-3
Staten Spencer (LSU) def. Yolandi Terblanche (Texas St.), 0-6, 7-6, 6-3
(Round of 32)
Camila Caliari (LSU) def. Tina Klemenc (Texas St.), 2-6, 6-3, 6-1
Staten Spencer (LSU) def. Ingrid Stockinger (N. Texas), 6-1, 6-1
Doubles
(Round of 64)
Espinal/Mang (LSU) def. Clifford/Druss (TA&M), 8-3
Seaman/Spencer (LSU) def. Dimovska/Grumbs (Houston), 8-3