LUBBOCK, Texas — Megan Falcon and Staten Spencer of the LSU women’s tennis team advanced to the doubles semifinals on day four at the Wilson/Intercollegiate Tennis Association Southwest Regional Championships in Lubbock, Texas, on Monday.
The Lady Tiger duo knocked off Mariayeri Gutierrez and Andrea Martinez of Lamar in a close match 8-6. One day earlier Gutierrez and Martinez upset third-seeded Vanja Corovic and Marija Milic of Texas, but in the quarterfinals Falcon and Spencer held on for the tough win.
In the other doubles quarterfinal match for LSU, Anastasiya Dubova and Mykala Hedberg played well against the nation’s 14th-ranked and the tournament’s top-seeded Anna Sydorska and Macall Harkins of TCU. Down 5-2 early in the match, Dubova and Hedberg rallied to tie it up at 6-6. However, the duo’s rally came up short as the top-seeded pair from TCU won the last two games to close out the match 8-6.
“I was really impressed with Mykala and Nas’s effort,” head coach Tony Minnis said. “They played hard and did a nice job against a tough team from TCU.”
In consolation singles, Tiffany Tucker continued her string of good play as she advanced to the semifinals of the West Consolation draw by knocking off Idunn Hertzberg of TCU 6-4, 7-6(3). Tucker will face Dominique Karas of Rice for a chance to compete in the finals.
In the North Consolation draw Hannah Robinson won by default twice and advanced to the finals. Robinson was scheduled to play Hedberg in the quarterfinals, but Hedberg had to pull out because she was feeling ill.
“Tiffany had a nice win,” Minnis said. “Hannah put herself in a position to possibly win the back draw, and Megan and Staten had a good win to get into the doubles semifinals. Overall, it was another nice day.”
Falcon and Spencer will face off against the tournament’s second seed and the nation’s 51st-ranked doubles team of Lenka Broosova and Zuzana Zemenova of Baylor at 9 a.m. tomorrow. Tucker and Robinson will also try to close out the regional with victories in the consolation draws.
ITA Southwest Regional Championships
Day Four Results
Singles
West Consolation
Quarterfinals
Tiffany Tucker (LSU) def. Idunn Hertzberg (TCU) 6-4, 7-6(3)
Stephanie Davison (UT) def. Nicole Kantor (LSU) 7-6(6), 6-1
North Consolation
Quarterfinals
Hannah Robinson (LSU) def. Mykala Hedberg (LSU) walkover
Semifinals
Hannah Robinson (LSU) def. Pavi Francis (SMU) walkover
Doubles
Quarterfinal
(5) Megan Falcon/Staten Spencer (LSU) def. Mariayeri Gutierrez/Andrea Martinez (Lamar) 8-6
(1) #14 Anna Sydorska/Macall Harkins (TCU) def. (6) Anastasiya Dubova/Mykala Hedberg (LSU) 8-6
Day Five Schedule
Singles
West Consolation Semifinals
Tiffany Tucker (LSU) vs. Dominique Karas (RU), 9 a.m.
North Consolation Finals
Hannah Robinson (LSU) vs. TBD, 9 a.m.
Doubles
Semifinals
(5) Megan Falcon/Staten Spencer (LSU) vs. (2) #51 Lenka Broosova/Zuzana Zemenova (BU) 9 a.m.