ATHENS, Ga. — The LSU women’s tennis team lost a hotly-contested doubles point and could not recover as sixth-ranked Georgia defeated the Lady Tigers, 6-1, at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex on Friday.
LSU (8-5, 3-2 SEC) started off strong when juniors Megan Falcon and Mykala Hedberg rolled to an easy upset victory over No. 25 Kelley Hyndman and Yvette Hyndman, 8-2. It marked the second time in three matches Falcon and Hedberg defeated a ranked opponent. Against Kentucky on March 7, the Lady Tiger tandem knocked off then-No. 50 Megan Broderick and Carolina Escamilla by the same 8-2 score.
The win also moved the duo’s record to 6-2.
After the win on court one, LSU could not capture either of the remaining matches as Georgia (12-3, 4-1) won on courts two and three by identical 9-7 scores to clinch the doubles point.
“We started off really well in doubles and had an opportunity to win it,” LSU head coach Tony Minnis said. “I was proud of how we fought, but we have to do it in singles too. I feel like we didn’t play with the same fire that we played with in doubles.”
In singles, LSU could not gain any momentum as Georgia claimed three victories on courts three, four and five to clinch the match.
The lone bright spot in singles was 19th-ranked Falcon who defeated No. 56 Kelley Hyndman, 6-4, 6-2. The win was Falcon’s eighth over a ranked opponent and moved her into a tie with sophomore Hannah Robinson for the team lead in overall wins with 18 and dual wins with 10.
LSU will now return home to W.T. “Dub” Robinson Tennis Stadium for a crucial match Sunday against 20th-ranked Tennessee at noon.
#6 Georgia 6, #26 LSU 1
March 21, 2008 at Athens, Ga.
Singles competition:
1. #19 Megan Falcon (LSU) def. #56 Kelley Hyndman (UGA) 6-4, 6-2
2. #45 Yvette Hyndman (UGA) def. Mykala Hedberg (LSU) 6-4, 6-2
3. #81 Monika Dancevic (UGA) def. Nicole Kantor (LSU) 6-2, 6-2
4. #115 Naoko Ueshima (UGA) def. Tiffany Tucker (LSU) 6-1, 6-0
5. Cameron Ellis (UGA) def. Hannah Robinson (LSU) 6-0, 6-1
6. Adrienne Elsberry (UGA) def. Staten Spencer (LSU) 7-5, 6-1
Doubles competition:
1. Megan Falcon/Mykala Hedberg (LSU) def. #25 Kelley Hyndman/Yvette Hyndman (UGA) 8-2
2. Monika Dancevic/Naoko Ueshima (UGA) def. Hannah Robinson/Tiffany Tucker (LSU) 9-7
3. Cameron Ellis/Adrienne Elsberry (UGA) def. Nicole Kantor/Staten Spencer (LSU) 9-7
Match Notes:
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (4,5,3,1,2,6)