COLLEGE STATION, Texas — The LSU women’s tennis team continued its winning ways, advancing five singles players and two doubles teams in day two of the ITA Southwest Regionals at the George P. Mitchell Tennis Center.
After winning two matches in the singles qualifying bracket yesterday, Camila Caliari and Staten Spencer each won a morning match Saturday to advance to the main draw. Then, as in day one, they both won a second match, advancing them to the round of 32. Caliari defeated Anneline Zerwick of Northwestern State, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, and Spencer took her match from Texas A&M’s Tiffany Clifford, 7-5, 6-2.
“Camila and Staten being able to play as many matches as they have and then picking up wins in the main draw was really big for them,” coach Tony Minnis commented. “They played extremely well and I am very impressed in what they have been able to accomplish.”
Also earning first-round wins in the main draw of singles were Amanda Mang, Lauren Seaman and Tiffany Tucker. Seaman and Tucker each took a two-set win, while Mang’s victory came in three. They will all join Caliari and Spencer in the round of 32.
Daysi Espinal and Marina Chiarelli were not as lucky on the day. They both lost their first-round match and will now move to the consolation bracket. Espinal will face Petra Dizdar, the Texas player ranked at No. 20 in the nation who was upset in her first-round match today, in her first game tomorrow.
In doubles, the duo of Seaman and Spencer continued to roll, defeating Camila Prado and Ctalina Villegas of Northwestern State, 8-1. Tucker and Chiarelli took a win as well, defeating Texas A&M’s Anna Blagodarova and Seva Iwinski, 8-4. The team of Espinal and Mang lost its second-round match and moved to the doubles consolation bracket.
“I am extra pleased with the progress I have seen,” Minnis said. “Our team has really stepped up its game this weekend. There are a lot of good teams in this tournament, and we have played very well against some very good teams. Hopefully, we can keep that up for the rest of the tournament.”
Regional action continues Sunday, where singles players will try to advance to the round of 16 and doubles teams will vie for a spot in the quarterfinal round.
ITA SOUTHWEST REGIONALS — Day two results
Singles
Qualifying bracket
Camila Caliari (LSU) def. Erin Keys (Texas), 6-3, 6-1
Staten Spencer (LSU) def. Andrea Martines (Lamar), 6-3, 6-4
Main draw
(Round of 64)
Carlota Santos (TA&M CC) def. Daysi Espinal (LSU), 6-2, 6-2
Camila Caliari (LSU) def. Anneline Zerwick (NW St.), 3-6, 6-4, 6-3
Amanda Mang (LSU) def. Daniela Novakova (UT-Arlington), 6-4, 3-6, 6-2
Lauren Walker (TA&M) def. Marina Chiarelli (LSU), 6-3, 5-7, 6-3
Lauren Seaman (LSU) def. Sahara Uriarte (La. Tech), 6-2, 6-1
Staten Spencer (LSU) def. Tiffany Clifford (TA&M), 7-5, 6-2
Tiffany Tucker (LSU) def. Lindsay McBride (TCU), 6-3, 6-1
Doubles
(Round of 32)
Chay/Langer (SMU) def. Espinal/Mang (LSU), 8-3
Seaman/Spencer (LSU) def. Prado/Villegas (NW St.), 8-1
Chiarelli/Tucker (LSU) def. Blagodarova/Iwinski (TA&M), 8-4