TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The LSU women’s tennis team won its fourth straight match as it defeated the University of Alabama, 5-2, on Friday in Tuscaloosa.
“We played pretty well. I give Alabama credit because they played well in doubles, but we stepped it up and turned it around in singles,” LSU head coach Tony Minnis said. “We did what we had to do.”
The Lady Tigers lost the doubles point, but came out strong in singles winning five of the six matches to grab their fourth Southeastern Conference win. This gives LSU a 12-7 overall record, 4-5 in the SEC. Alabama falls to 5-13, 1-8 in the SEC.
Freshman Nicole Kantor and sophomore Staten Spencer continued to gel as a doubles pair winning their match on court three against the Tide’s Paulina Bigos and Nicole Briceno, 8-6. The tandem improved their record to 6-1 overall, 3-0 in the SEC.
On court two, the match was tight but the Lady Tigers could not come out on top as Hannah Robinson and Anastasiya Dubova fell to Shelley Godwin and Bianca Svensson, 8-6.
The point came down to court one as No. 42 Mykala Hedberg and Megan Falcon battled Mari Muller and Andrea Brenes. The Tide came out on top of a 9-8 decision.
In singles play, LSU came out with great momentum and won the first five matches all in straight sets.
On court one, No. 3-ranked Falcon finished first downing Muller, 6-1, 6-1. Falcon improves her record to 28-2 overall with her 17th straight win. She is 9-0 in the SEC and has defeated 16 ranked opponents.
Spencer downed Svensson on court five, 6-2, 6-2, to put the Lady Tigers ahead 2-1. Robinson battled on court four against the Tide’s Alice Tunaru winning the match 6-0, 7-5. This gives Robinson a 22-8 overall record, boasting an 8-1 conference record.
Kantor clinched the win for LSU on court three against Godwin, 6-3, 6-4. Kantor now owns a 15-14 overall record, 4-5 in the SEC.
Dubova added the fifth point for the Lady Tigers on court six winning against Bigos, 6-2, 6-1. She is 14-6 on the season, 4-3 in the SEC.
The Lady Tigers are back in action Sunday as they travel to Auburn, Ala. to take on the Tigers at Luther Young Tennis Complex at 11 a.m. CT.
#39 LSU 5, #63 Alabama 2
Singles
1. #3 Megan Falcon (LSU) def. Mari Muller (UA), 6-1, 6-1
2. Nicole Briceno (UA) def. Mykala Hedberg (LSU), 3-6, 7-5, 1-0
3. Nicole Kantor (LSU) def. Shelley Godwin (UA), 6-3, 6-4
4. Hannah Robinson (LSU) def. Alice Tunaru (UA), 6-0, 7-5
5. Staten Spencer (LSU) def. Bianca Svensson (UA), 6-2, 6-3
6. Anastasiya Dubova (LSU) def. Paulina Bigos (UA), 6-2, 6-1
Doubles
1. Mari Muller/Andrea Brenes (UA) def. #42 Megan Falcon/Mykala Hedberg (LSU), 9-8
2. Shelley Godwin/Bianca Svensson (UA) def. Hannah Robinson/Anastasiya Dubova (LSU), 8-6
3. Nicole Kantor/Staten Spencer (LSU) def. Paulina Bigos/Nicole Briceno (UA), 8-6
Order of Finish: D3,D2,D1,S1,S5,S4,S3*,S6,S2
*clinched match