FAYETTVILLE, Ark. — The 16th-ranked LSU men’s tennis team had its hopes for a first SEC Western Division title dashed Saturday in a 4-3 loss to Arkansas.
LSU kicked off the match by winning the doubles point and taking an early 1-0 lead over the Razorbacks.
The No. 9-ranked duo Ken Skupski and Mark Growcott downed Matt Roberts and Rohan Gajjar 8-6 on the No. 1 court. Senior Paul White and freshman James Cluskey followed up with an 8-6 victory over Austin King and Colin Mascall to clinch the early advantage for the Tigers.
Colt Gaston and Danny Bryan had their match with Blake Strodde and Adrians Zguns suspended at 7-6 because the doubles point had been decided.
In singles play Arkansas, which has four ranked singles players, showed that it has one of the nation’s best lineups and was able to pull out the match.
Zguns was surprisingly quick, taking out the 21st-ranked Skupski 6-3, 6-2. It was Skupski’s second straight loss and the first time he has dropped consecutive matches since the start of the dual season.
The Tigers took a 2-1 lead when Growcott, playing at the No. 3 spot, outlasted Gajjar through three sets, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1.
However, Arkansas answered with a win on court four where Strode bested Bryan 6-2, 5-7, 6-3.
LSU regained the lead once again on the strength of a three set win by Martel Campbell on court No. 6. Campbell defeated King 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 and put LSU in a position to clinch the match.
Arkansas was simply too much. The No. 57-ranked Roberts beat Gaston 6-4 in the first set and 7-6 (6) in a second set tiebreaker, evening the score at three all.
The deciding match was on court four where Cluskey battled Mascall through three sets. In the end Mascall sealed the victory for the Razorbacks, winning 6-3, 5-7, 6-3.
“It was a hard fought match,” said LSU head coach Jeff Brown. “We just still need to get more production out of some spots. We have the talent to win those matches and we have to do it.”
The loss not only denies LSU its first SEC West title but will also cost the Tigers a first round bye in the SEC Tournament starting April 20. LSU should be slated to face 12th-seeded Mississippi State on Friday. The official bracket will be released by the SEC office Saturday night.
Arkansas 4, LSU 3
#22 Adrians Zguns (ARK) def. #21 Ken Skupski (LSU) 6-3, 6-2 1
#57 Matt Roberts (ARK) def. #100 Colt Gaston (LSU) 6-4, 7-6 (6) 5
Mark Growcott (LSU) def. #93 Rohan Gajjar (ARK) 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 2
#124 Blake Strode (ARK) def. Danny Bryan (LSU) 6-2, 5-7, 6-3
Colin Mascall (ARK) def. James Cluskey (LSU) 6-3, 5-7, 6-3
Martel Campbell (LSU) def. Austin King (ARK) 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 4
1. #9 Growcott/Skupski (LSU) def. Roberts/Gajjar (ARK) 8-6
2. #25 Bryan/Gaston (LSU) def. Strodde/Zguns (ARK) 7-6
3. White/Cluskey (LSU) def. Kin/Mascall (ARK) 8-6