PEACHTREE CITY, Ga. — The LSU women’s tennis team won four of its seven matches to lead off the SEC Coaches Classic at the Peachtree City Tennis Center.
Amanda Mang, ranked at No. 120 in the nation, led the Lady Tigers with a big win over No. 81 Ilona Somers of Ole Miss in three sets. After winning the first set and falling in the second, she was down match point in the third set and fought back to win, 7-6.
“Amanda played very well today and I was very impressed with the way she was able to fight back after being down to such a good player,” coach Tony Minnis said.
Other LSU players earned wins in singles play Thursday in Lauren Seaman, Staten Spencer and Daysi Espinal.
Seaman won in two sets over Daron Moore of Tennessee, 7-6, 6-0, as did Spencer over Hayley Rudman of Mississippi State, 6-0, 6-4. Espinal’s win came in three sets over Mississippi State’s Polina Kokoulina, 6-2, 0-6, 6-4.
The remaining Lady Tigers were not as successful, as Marina Chiarelli, Tiffany Tucker and Camila Caliari dropped their first-round matches. They will play in consolation matches Friday as their teammates continue in the main bracket. Doubles play also begins Friday.
“We played really well today,” Minnis said, “and I hope I can see more of the way we played today in the way we play tomorrow.”
SEC COACHES CLASSIC DAY ONE RESULTS
A Singles
#120 Amanda Mang (LSU) def. #81 Ilona Somers (Ole Miss), 7-4, 4-6, 7-6
B Singles
Lauren Seaman (LSU) def. Daron Moore (UT), 7-6, 6-0
Anastasia Kugakolova (MSU) def. Mirina Chiarelli (LSU), 6-2, 6-1
C Singles
Staten Spencer (LSU) def. Hayley Rudman (MSU), 6-0, 6-4
Justine Walsh (USC) def. Tiffany Tucker (LSU), 6-4, 6-2
D Singles
Daysi Espinal (LSU) def. Polina Kokoulina (MSU), 6-2, 0-6, 6-4
Karina Ladoja (Ark) def. Camila Caliari (LSU), 4-6, 6-2, 6-2