GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The 10th-seeded LSU women’s tennis team pulled off another impressive upset Thursday, defeating seventh-seeded and No. 44-ranked Arkansas, 4-2, to advance to the quarterfinals of the Southeastern Conference Tournament at Florida’s Linder Stadium at Ring Tennis Complex.
The Lady Tigers (12-11) defeated the Lady ‘Backs (10-10) for the second time in a week. They had beaten them, 5-2, on Saturday to conclude the regular season. They advance to the quarterfinals for a match-up with No. 2-seeded and No. 8-ranked Vanderbilt.
“I’m really proud of how the girls fought today,” head coach Tony Minnis said. “I expected them to come out and fight, and they were even more intense than I had expected.”
Several seniors came up big for LSU, as Lauren Seaman won the first singles match followed by Camila Caliari. Seaman won easily in straight-sets over Melissa Cornett, 6-3, 6-2, on court four, but Caliari’s match was a thriller.
After dropping the first set, 6-1, and falling behind 5-2 in the second to Karina Ledaja, the Maringa, Brazil, native roared back to win the second set, 7-5. She saved nine match points in the process. She took complete control of the decisive set, earning a 6-0 victory.
Then Marina Chiarelli, the reigning SEC Player of the Week, clinched her second match of the week over Arkansas with a straight-sets win over No. 67 Ela Kaluder, 7-5, 6-2.
“The seniors really stepped up today and showed their tremendous leadership qualities,” Minnis said. “They didn’t want to end their season today, and they really used the experience they’ve gained in their four years to help this team advance.”
The temperature outside at match time read 99.5 degrees. The Lady Tigers began the match just as hot. They took the early lead by winning doubles just as they had done Saturday.
This doubles match was more of a battle, however, as all three courts were decided by a two-game margin. Seniors Seaman and Daysi Espinal captured their fourth straight win as a pair, 8-6, over Cornett and Vlatka Jovanovic.
The Lady’Backs tied it up shortly after with a court one victory by Maryori Franco and Ledaja over Mykala Hedberg and Tiffany Tucker, 9-7. But Chiarelli and Anastasiya Dubova ensured the LSU win by ousting Audrey Bordeleau and Kaluder, 8-6.
The duo had jumped to a quick 4-1 advantage, but fell behind, 6-5, at one point. They regained momentum, however, and claimed the victory, 8-6.
Just like Saturday’s contest, most of the singles matches remained close throughout as well. The two shortest matches were on the three and four courts, with Arkansas grabbing the former and LSU the latter.
Arkansas managed wins on singles courts three and six, but once again could not control enough courts to defeat LSU.
The Lady Tigers’ next opponent, the Vanderbilt Commodores, sat out Thursday with a bye. They defeated the LSU, 7-0, in Baton Rouge earlier in the year.
“Vanderbilt is a tough team, and we’re going to need another effort like today to get the win,” Minnis said.
Friday’s match is set for another 1 p.m. CT start time. The Lady Tigers are looking for their first berth to the semifinals since 2004, where they fell to eventual champions Florida.
Match Results
SEC Tournament – Round 1
Gainesville, Fla.
#60 LSU 4, #44 Arkansas 2
Singles
1. Mykala Hedberg (LSU) vs.Vltaka Jovanovic (UA) 7-6(3), 5-5, DNF
2. Marina Chiarelli (LSU) def. #67 Ela Kaluder (UA) 7-5, 6-2
3. Maryori Fraco (UA) def. Anastasiya Dubova (LSU) 6-3, 7-5
4. Lauren Seaman (LSU) def. Melissa Cornett (UA) 6-3, 6-2
5. Camila Caliari (LSU) def. Karina Ledaja (UA) 1-6, 7-5, 6-0
6. Audrey Bordeleau (UA) def. Daysi Espinal (LSU) 7-6(4), 6-2
Doubles
1. Maryori Franco/Karina Ledaja (UA) def. Mykala Hedberg/Tiffany Tucker (LSU) 9-7
2. Marina Chiarelli/Anastasiya Dubova (LSU) def. Audrey Bordeleau/Ela Kaluder (UA) 8-6
3. Daysi Espinal/Lauren Seaman (LSU) def. Melissa Cornett/Vlatka Jovanovic (UA) 8-6
Match Notes
Arkansas #44 (10-10, 5-6 SEC)
LSU #60 (12-11, 3-8 SEC)
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2) Singles (4,3,5,6,2)