ATHENS, Ga. — Sophomore Megan Falcon of the LSU women’s tennis team had her remarkable season come to an end Sunday afternoon as she fell to sixth-seeded Lindsey Nelson of USC, 7-6 (2), 6-2, in the semifinals of NCAA Singles Tournament at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex.
The loss was only the third for Falcon this season as she finishes her first year of college tennis with an unprecedented 38-3 record. Falcon owned a 28-match win streak heading into the match.
Nelson will face top-seeded Audra Cohen of Miami on Monday in the championship match.
“I think all the matches (of this tournament) finally got to me,” Falcon said. “I played a lot of tough matches this year and with my style of game I run a little bit more than most people because I don’t hit as strong. But she (Nelson) played really well and took several options away from me. She played a lot of winners and just dictated the match.”
Falcon held in the opening game and broke Nelson in the second without allowing a point to take a 2-0 lead. After Nelson prevented Falcon on her first two game points in the third game, Falcon capitalized on her next advantage to push her lead to 3-0.
Nelson turned the tables by winning the next three games to tie it at 3-all.
Falcon held the seventh game to go up 4-3 but Nelson took two of the next three games to tie it at 5-all.
Each ITA All American broke the other to send the grueling first set to a tiebreaker.
Falcon took the first point but was only able to capture one more from there as she lost the tiebreaker by a 7-2 score.
Falcon and Nelson spilt the first four games of the second set to put the score at 2-all.
Falcon was not able to push the match to a third set as Nelson won the final four games to capture the victory.
The loss doesn’t take away from Falcon’s outstanding debut as a Lady Tiger. Falcon was the first Lady Tiger in team history to reach the NCAA semifinals. The ITA All-American went undefeated during the regular season at the No. 1 slot on her way to being named Southeastern Conference Player of the Year. Her No. 2 ranking in singles is the highest in team history. Falcon was selected as the ITA Co-National Player to Watch. In the fall she won the ITA All-American Consolation title.
“Nelson hits a very powerful ball and I think she kind of neutralized Megan with that today,” LSU head coach Tony Minnis said. “Nelson is obviously a great player by reaching the finals for the second year in a row.
“I could not be more proud of Megan for what she did this year. To win 28 matches in a row is incredible. She is a great competitor and did a great job this year. Hopefully she will get another crack at it next year and comes out with the same intensity.”
Despite the accolades, Falcon said she is not satisfied with how her season ended. The sophomore sensation said she will only be satisfied when her singles season ends with a win in the NCAA Tournament.
“I don’t think any player is satisfied with a loss or they aren’t a true competitor,” she said. “I am definitely not satisfied with my result. I wish it could have been different. Hopefully I can come back next year and do a little better.”
NCAA Women’s Singles Championship
Semifinals
May 27, 2007
(4) #5 Lindsey Nelson (USC) def. (2) #2 Megan Falcon (LSU), 7-6 (2) 6-2