TULSA, Okla. — The LSU women’s tennis team lost its last road match in heartbreaking fashion as it fell to Tulsa, 4-3, at the Michael D. Case Tennis Center.
With the loss, the Lady Tigers dropped to 10-11 (2-8 SEC) and the Golden Hurricanes improved to 11-1(0-3 Conference USA).
“I have to give credit to Tulsa they played with a lot of fire today,” LSU head coach Tony Minnis said. “It’s disappointing to lose such a close match.”
In doubles play, LSU took the early lead when Mariana Chiarelli and Anastasiya Dubova defeated Tulsa’s Thalia Diaz-Barriga and Daniela Muscolino on court two, 8-5. The win was the fourth straight for Chiarelli and Dubova.
Tulsa fought back on court one when Santie Delport and Kindsay Grimes outlasted LSU’s Mykala Hedberg and Tiffany Tucker, 8-4.
On court three, LSU’s senior doubles pair clinched the doubles point as Daysi Espinal and Lauren Seaman won a close battle against Tulsa’s Tiffany Smith and Julie Westfall, 8-6.
In singles play, Tulsa quickly tied the match on court two when Delport routed Chiarelli, 6-2, 6-3.
On court six, Espinal put the Lady Tigers in the lead by defeating Agostina Santoro, 6-0, 6-3.
LSU’s lead did not last long as Tulsa went on to win the next three matches.
Seaman lost in straight sets to Grimes, 6-4, 6-4, on court four.
On court three, Smith won the first set against Dubova, 6-2. Dubova continued to struggle in the second set losing 7-5.
No. 1 seed Hedberg fought to keep the Lady Tigers alive. In the first set, Hedberg fell to Muscolino, 1-6, but bounced back to win the second set, 6-4. Hedberg could not bring her momentum into the third set losing 6-0. Muscolino’s win clinched the match for the Golden Hurricanes.
LSU refused to go down without a fight as Caliari won a hard fought match against Diaz-Barriga, 6-7, 6-3, 10-7.
The Lady Tigers return to Baton Rouge and W.T. Robinson Tennis Stadium for Senior Day festivities in their final home match of the season against the Arkansas Lady’Backs on Saturday at 1 p.m.
LSU’s four seniors, Caliari, Chiarelli, Espinal and Seaman, will be honored prior to the match.
“This group of seniors came into our program when we needed a certain degree of character and they provided tremendous character,” Minnis said. “Hopefully we can send them off on a high note against Arkansas.”
MATCH RESULTS
Tulsa 4, #66 LSU 2
Singles competition
1. Daniela Muscolino (TU) def. Mykala Hedberg (LSU), 1-6, 6-4, 6-0
2. Santie Delport (TU) def. Marina Chiarelli (LSU), 6-2, 6-3
3. Tiffany Smith (TU) def. Anastasiya Dubova (LSU), 6-2, 7-5
4. Kindsay Grimes (TU) def. Lauren Seaman (LSU), 6-4, 6-4
5. Camila Caliari (LSU) def. Thalia Diaz-Barriga (TU), 6-7, 6-3, 10-7
6. Daysi Espinal (LSU) def. Agostina Santoro (TU), 6-0, 6-3
Doubles competition
1. Santie Delport/Kindsay Grimes (TU) def. Mykala Hedberg/Tiffany Tucker (LSU), 8-4
2. Marina Chiarelli/Anastasiya Dubova (LSU) def. Thalia Diaz-Barriga/Daniela Muscolino (TU), 8-5
3. Daysi Espinal/Lauren Seaman (LSU) def. Tiffany Smith/Julie Westfall (TU), 8-6
Match notes:
Tulsa 11-11(0-3 Conference USA)
LSU 10-11(2-8 SEC); National Ranking #66
Order of finish: Doubles (2, 1, 3); Singles (2, 6, 4, 3, 1, 5)