COLUMBIA, S.C. — The LSU women’s tennis team lost a hotly-contested doubles point early and could not catch up in singles as the Lady Tigers fell, 5-2 to South Carolina at the Maxcy Gregg Tennis Center on Friday.
With the loss, LSU (10-7) dropped to 3-4 in Southeastern Conference play. South Carolina (11-5) moved to 4-3 in the conference.
In doubles, LSU’s Megan Falcon and Mykala Hedberg had their four-match win streak snapped as the Lady Tiger tandem fell, 9-7 to No. 33 Gira Schofield and Ana Marija Zubori in a match that was tight throughout. The match was the duo’s fourth against a ranked doubles team in the last seven matches. On the season, Falcon and Hedberg are now 3-1 against ranked foes and 9-3 overall.
After falling behind, 6-3 on court two, LSU’s Nicole Kantor and Staten Spencer won four of the next five games to tie the match at 7-7, but South Carolina’s Suzanna Mansour and Megan McGavock took the final two games to win the match, 9-7.
In singles, Robinson cruised in straight sets over Mansour, 6-1, 6-2 on court four. Robinson’s record stands at 21-7 after the win, including a 13-4 dual record.
No. 19 Falcon pulled away from No. 44 Schofield after a close first set and won, 7-5, 6-2. The win pushed Falcon’s record to a team-leading 22-4, and it was her 10th victory this season over a ranked opponent.
“Our kids fought as hard as they could,” LSU head coach Tony Minnis said. “It’s just tough right now. We played a solid match, but we have to get healthy. We are banged up, so it makes it hard to compete at our highest level. At the same time the kids we have out there are giving their all and playing their hearts out.”
On court two, Hedberg had to retire due to an injury after she lost the first set, 6-0, and after South Carolina had clinched the match, Spencer retired on court six, trailing 4-3 in the third set.
LSU will travel to face No. 4 Florida (13-1, 7-0) for a noon match at Linder Stadium at Ring Tennis Complex on Sunday.
#34 South Carolina 5, #27 LSU 2
March 28, 2008 at Columbia, S.C.
Singles competition:
1. #19 Megan Falcon (LSU) def. #44 Gira Schofield (USC) 7-5, 6-2
2. #75 Ana Marija Zubori (USC) def. Mykala Hedberg (LSU) 6-0, retired
3. Natasa Vuckovic (USC) def. Nicole Kantor (LSU) 7-5, 6-3
4. Hannah Robinson (LSU) def. Suzanna Mansour (USC) 6-1, 6-2
5. Megan McGavock (USC) def. Staten Spencer (LSU) 6-2, 2-6, 4-3, retired
6. Jelena Rajic (USC) def. Kylie Adamek (LSU) 6-0, 6-0
Doubles competition:
1. #33 Gira Schofield/Ana Marija Zubori (USC) def. Megan Falcon/Mykala Hedberg (LSU) 9-7
2. Megan McGavock/Suzanna Mansour (USC) def. Nicole Kantor/Staten Spencer (LSU) 9-7
3. Jelena Rajic/Natasa Vuckovic (USC) def. Kylie Adamek/Hannah Robinson (LSU) 8-4
Match Notes:
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (2,6,4,1,3,5)