HOUSTON — The LSU women’s tennis team (5-1) rebounded from a loss Sunday at Rice by defeating Houston (2-2) on the road, 4-3.
“Houston is a good team, and we competed really hard today,” coach Tony Minnis said. “We showed how intense of a team we are by our focus today.”
The match began Tuesday, but because of a rain delay was not completed until Wednesday. Singles were played first, but the teams finished locked at 3-3.
Freshmen Staten Spencer and Tiffany Tucker took out their opponents in two sets. Tucker won over Tiffany McLoughlin, 6-4, 6-1. By defeating Diana Martin, 6-2, 7-6, Spencer remained unbeaten in singles play this season.
Lauren Seaman also picked up a win in singles by defeating Brianna Bateup in three sets, 6-4, 4-6, 6-0.
Amanda Mang battled hard, but lost to Houston’s senior leader Biljana Dimovska in 3 sets. Each set score was 6-4 with Mang on the losing end of the first and last. She was able to defeat her Houston opponent in the second set, but Dimovska was too much and took the third set and the match to remain undefeated in singles play for the Lady Cougars.
Freshman Anastasiya Dubova suffered her first defeat of the season to Yolandi Terblanche in two sets. Marina Chiarelli lost her match as well, but had to fight through much adversity just to be able to play.
She spent two hours Wednesday morning in the hospital and then returned to the tennis courts to play her match, eventually falling 6-4, 6-4.
“It took tremendous courage for Marina to do what she did today,” Minnis said. “For her to spend the morning in the hospital and then fight to the end in a tough match says a lot about her character and the character of our team.”
The Lady Tigers have been focusing a lot on doubles, and it paid off in Houston. LSU won all three doubles matches to take the fourth point and clinch the win.
Seaman and Tucker extended their unbeaten streak to six matches in the No. 1 doubles position by downing Dimovska and Martin, 8-2. Spencer and Mang and Chiarelli and Camila Caliari paired to win as well.
The victory brings the Lady Tigers’ record to 5-1 before returning to action Feb. 19 and 20 for home matches against Tulsa and Florida State.
LSU 4, Houston 3
Singles
Dimovska (UH) def. Mang (LSU) 6-4, 4-6, 6-4
Seaman (LSU) def. Bateup (UH) 6-4, 4-6, 6-0
Spencer (LSU) def. Martin (UH) 6-2, 7-6
Miller (UH) def. Chiarelli (LSU) 6-4, 6-4
Tucker (LSU) def. McLoughlin (UH) 6-4, 6-1
Terblanche (UH) def. Dubova (LSU) 6-3, 6-1
Doubles
Seaman/Tucker (LSU) def. Dimovska/Martin (UH) 8-2
Spencer/Mang (LSU) def. Gumbs/Terblanche (UH) 8-2
Caliari/Chiarelli (LSU) def. Miller/Bateup (UH) 8-6