BATON ROUGE — Megan Falcon and Mykala Hedberg of the LSU women’s tennis team advanced to the quarterfinal round of the Intercollegiate Tennis Association National Indoor Championships to highlight the tennis team’s action on Thursday.
Falcon and Hedberg, the 11th-ranked doubles team in the nation, beat Virginia’s Amanda Rales and Maggie Yahner, 8-4, to reach the quarterfinal round at the Boyd Tinsley Courts at the Boar’s Head Sports Club in Charlottesville, Va. The LSU duo will take on two familiar SEC foes as Arkansas’ Nanar Airapetian and Anouk Tigu upset the tournament’s second seed and third-ranked Amanda Granson and Melissa Mang of Duke 8-3.
In singles, 15th-ranked Falcon could not overcome a slow start as Fresno State’s 16th-ranked Anastasia Petukhova defeated Falcon 6-1, 6-4.
“Megan and Mykala played another solid match,” said LSU assistant coach Lisa Jackson, who traveled with the duo. “They competed hard, came away with the win and will have a great opportunity to keep advancing tomorrow.”
In the SEC Fall Coaches Classic in Tuscaloosa, Ala., Nicole Kantor, Nicole Smith and Whitney Wolf all fell in their opening singles match at the Alabama Tennis Stadium. Wolf put up a fight against No. 81 Monika Dancevic of Georgia by capturing the second set, 7-6(4), from the Bulldog senior, but Dancevic won the third set to claim the match.
“All three girls played hard today, but they are facing stiff competition,” LSU head coach Tony Minnis said. “The good thing is we have a great opportunity to bounce back tomorrow in singles and doubles, so hopefully they will take advantage of that.”
The first two rounds of doubles at the SEC Classic will begin on Friday at 9 a.m. with one singles round to follow. All three Lady Tigers will compete in consolation singles play in their respective draw.
In the Indoor Championships, Falcon and Hedberg will square off against Arkansas’ pair at 8:30 a.m., and Falcon will begin consolation singles at 10:30 a.m. against USC’s Alison Ramos.
ITA National Indoor Championships
November 6, 2008 ? Day One Results
Singles
Round of 32
#16 Anastasia Petukhova (FRESNO) def. #15 Megan Falcon (LSU) 6-1, 6-4
Doubles
Round of 16
#11 Megan Falcon/Mykala Hedberg (LSU) def. Amanda Rales/Maggie Yahner (UVA) 8-4
SEC Fall Coaches Classic
November 6, 2008 ? Day One Results
Singles
White Draw
Quarterfinals
#81 Monika Dancevic (UGA) def. Whitney Wolf (LSU) 6-1, 6-7(4), 6-1
Gold Draw
Quarterfinals
Joanna Mather (UF) def. Nicole Kantor (LSU) 6-4, 3-6, 6-4
Blue Draw
Quarterfinals
Chelsea Preeg (VU) def. Nicole Smith (LSU) 6-2, 6-2