CHICAGO — LSU’s doubles team of Ken Skupski and Mark Growcott knocked off the No. 1-ranked doubles team in the nation Saturday to set LSU on its way to a 4-1 victory over No. 15 Ohio State.
The win was the last match of the National Team Indoor Championships for the No. 11 Tigers (9-1). They leave with a 2-1 record in the tournament after losing to eighth-ranked Duke and defeating Boise State in the first two days of competition.
“Ken and Mark had a good win in doubles,” said LSU head coach Jeff Brown. “It kind of set the tone that they were ahead and then Danny (Bryan) and Jason (Hazley) got the clinch.”
Skupski and Growcott rebounded from their only loss of the dual season in Friday’s match to quickly beat the Buckeye’s Scott Green and Ross Wilson, 8-4.
LSU’s other ranked doubles team, No. 34 Bryan and Hazley, sealed the doubles point with an 8-4 win on court two.
In singles, Skupski and Growcott both had their third wins in three days over ranked players. No. 12-ranked Skupski beat No. 40 Devin Mullings on court one. Growcott, a first-year Tiger who is unranked, knocked off 68th-ranked Joey Atas on court two.
Bryan’s straight set win over Ross Wilson on court five clinched the win for the Tigers. Peter Richman and Paul White were still playing when the match was called.
Ohio State’s only team point came from a 6-4, 6-4 win by Chris Klingemann over Hazley on court two.
“We had great enthusiasm to be in the third day of the tournament,” Brown said. “I’ve been to this tournament about 14 times as a player and coach, and I know that when you come out of it 2-1, it’s successful. We got two quality wins. We will be able to build on the confidence we have gained here.”
Another tough road match awaits the Tigers next weekend when they travel to face 10th-ranked Texas A&M.
#11 LSU 4, #15 Ohio State 1
Doubles competition:
#13 Skupski/Growcott (LSU) def. #1 Green/Wilson (OSU), 8-4
#34 Hazley/Bryan (LSU) def. Mullings/Mertens (OSU), 8-4
Richman/White (LSU) vs. Atas/Eberly (OSU), DNF
Singles competition:
#12 Ken Skupski (LSU) def. #40 Devin Mullings (OSU), 6-2, 6-3
Mark Growcott (LSU) def. #67 Joey Atas (OSU), 6-3, 6-4
#124 Chris Klingemann (OSU) def. #87 Jason Hazley, 6-4, 6-4
Peter Richman (LSU) vs. Ross Wilson, DNF
Danny Bryan (LSU) def. Dennis Mertens (OSU), 7-6, 6-4
Paul White (LSU) vs. Scott Green (OSU), DNF