FORT WORTH, Texas ? LSU’s 11th-ranked duo of Megan Falcon and Mykala Hedberg breezed through the draw and took the doubles championship for the first time in LSU history at the Wilson/ITA Southwest Regional at the Bayard H. Friedman Tennis Center on Monday.
The Lady Tigers pair defeated two of host TCU’s doubles teams in the semifinal and final on Monday to take the title.
Third-seeded Falcon and Hedberg beat second-seeded and ninth-ranked Anna Sydorska and Macall Harkins in the final, 8-4, only an hour after their semifinal win. In the semifinal, LSU’s duo knocked off No. 9-seed Maria Babanova and Nina Munch-Soegaard 8-3.
“I am really happy for Megan and Mykala,” LSU head coach Tony Minnis said. “They played well in this tournament and only lost a maximum of four games in a match every time. My hat is off to them for a great week of tennis.”
The duo’s victory in the championship marked the first time in the Minnis era an LSU tandem has claimed the regional title. Two years ago in 2006, Falcon and Hannah Robinson reached the final match but fell short after winning five straight matches. In 2003, Rocio Fantilli and Lauren Seaman lost in the final round as well.
After sweeping five matches at the tournament, Falcon and Hedberg boosted their record to 11-1 on the season, including a 3-1 record against ranked opponents.
In singles, Nicole Kantor fell 6-2, 6-2, in the finals of the west consolation draw to TCU’s Kayla Duncan.
Falcon/Hedberg’s Path to the Title
Final
(3) Falcon/Hedberg (LSU) def. (2) Harkins/Sydorska (TCU) 8-4
Semifinal
(3) Falcon/Hedberg (LSU) def. (9) Babanova/Munch-Soegaard (TCU) 8-3
Quarterfinals
(3) Falcon/Hedberg (LSU) def. (6) Liles/Potgieter (TAMU) 8-3
Round of 16
(3) Falcon/Hedberg (LSU) def. Lange/Schulz (Northwestern St.) 8-2
Round of 32
(3) Falcon/Hedberg (LSU) def. Matovicova/Pesic (UT-Arlington) 8-1
Round of 64
(3) Falcon/Hedberg (LSU) received bye
ITA Southwest Regional
October 27, 2008 ? Day Five Results
Singles
West Consolation
Finals
Kayla Duncan (TCU) def. Nicole Kantor (LSU) 6-2, 6-2
Doubles
Main Draw
Semifinals
(3) #11 Megan Falcon/Mykala Hedberg (LSU) def. (9) Maria Babanova/Nina Munch-Soegaard (TCU) 8-3
Finals
(3) #11 Megan Falcon/Mykala Hedberg (LSU) def. (2) #9 Anna Sydorska/Macall Harkins (TCU) 8-4