LEXINGTON, Ky. — LSU duo Neal Skupski and Michael Venus notched a win against Georgia’s Jaime Hunt and Nate Schnugg on Sunday in the doubles semifinal of the Southeastern Conference Coaches’ Indoor Championships hosted by the University of Kentucky.
“Michael and Neal did well in their first competition as a doubles team,” LSU head coach Jeff Brown said. “They are going to be a good combination for us in doubles.”
Skupski and Venus, the No. 3 seed, triumphed over Hunt and Schnugg, winning by an 8-6 mark.
Hunt and Schnugg held the No. 2 seed in tournament as well as the Intercollegiate Tennis Association’s rank as the nation’s No. 40 doubles team.
The LSU duo posted a mark of 3-1 for the tournament, losing in the doubles final to Tennessee’s Davey Sandgren and J.P. Smith in a close 8-5 match.
In addition to playing in the doubles semifinals, senior Venus will enter the singles semifinals as well.
After marking a straight-set victory over Mississippi State’s Louis Cant, 6-2, 6-2, Venus moves into the semifinals to square off against Florida’s Carlos Cueto, No. 87 in ITA rankings.
Venus faces Cueto in 8 a.m. match CDT to determine who will move into singles final, slated for noon at the Hilary J. Boone Tennis Complex.
SEC Coaches’ Indoor Championships
January 16-19
Lexington, Ky.
All Times Central
Jan. 18
Doubles
Semifinals
3 Neal Skupski/Michael Venus (LSU) def. 2 Jaime Hunt/Nate Schnugg (UGA), 8-6
Final
4 Davey Sandgren/J.P. Smith (UT) def. 3 Neal Skupski/Michael Venus (LSU), 8-5
Singles
Quarterfinals
1 Michael Venus (LSU) def. Louis Cant (MSU), 6-2, 6-2
Consolation Singles
Quarterfinals
Jeff Dadamo (UF) def. Mark Bowtell (LSU), 6-2, 6-3
Sebastian Carlsson (LSU) def. Antonio Lastre (MSU), 6-1, 6-4
Semifinals
Jon Hamui (UF) def. Sebastian Carlsson (LSU), 6-4, 6-3
Consolation Doubles
Semifinals
James Cluskey/Julien Gauthier (LSU) def. Borja Malo/Alex Hill (UGA), 8-5
Final
James Cluskey/Julien Gauthier (LSU) def. Ricky Doverspike/ Michael Thompson (UA), 8-4
Jan. 19
Singles
Semifinals
1 Michael Venus (LSU) vs. Carlos Cueto (UF), 8 a.m.