LAFAYETTE, La. — The No. 26 LSU women’s tennis team improved its record to 7-2 after sweeping state rival ULL Saturday at the Cajun Courts in Lafayette.
“Our team played really well today. It wasn’t a very easy, 7-0, win. We have to give credit to our players. We had a couple of starters who went down with nagging injuries. Kylie Adamek and Nicole Smith really stepped up and held it up for us,” said head coach Tony Minnis.
The Lady Tigers jumped ahead early as Hannah Robinson and Smith clinched the doubles point on court three against Marina Gauna de Ruiz and Tara Vasovic 8-3. No. 15 Megan Falcon and Mykala Hedberg finished first on court one as they won their match against Milou Israel and Julie Mazinova 8-3. On court two, duo Nicole Kantor and Staten Spencer fell to ULL’s Angela Dangond and Mia Gordon 8-7(3) after a hard-fought battle.
In singles, 12th-ranked senior Falcon finished first on court one as she cruised past Mazinova 6-3, 6-2, advancing her season record to 21-4.
On court five, Smith took down Ruiz de Gauna in a competitive two-set match 6-0, 7-6, bringing the score to 3-0.
On court four, Spencer clinched the overall match for the Lady Tigers as she beat Gordon 6-3, 6-4.
LSU’s Kantor grabbed the fifth point for the team on court three as she outlasted Israel 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.
Sophomore Adamek stepped up as she replaced Robinson, who was experiencing lingering back pain, as she claimed her match against Vasovic 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 on court six.
Hedberg sealed the sweep for the Lady Tigers as she rallied back to defeat Dangond 5-7, 6-0, 6-3, bringing the final score to, 7-0.
The Lady Tigers will be back in action to square off against Auburn Friday at 4 p.m. at the Yarborugh Tennis Center in Auburn, Ala.
#26 LSU 7, ULL 0
February 28, 2009 at Lafayette, La. (Cajun Courts)
Singles
1. #12 Megan Falcon (LSU) def. Julie Mazinova (UL) 6-3, 6-2
2. Mykala Hedberg (LSU) def. Angela Dangond (UL) 5-7, 6-0, 6-3
3. Nicole Kantor (LSU) def. Milou Israel (UL) 4-6, 6-3, 6-2
4. Staten Spencer (LSU) def. Mia Gordon 6-3, 6-4
5. Nicole Smith (LSU) def. Marina Ruiz de Gauna (UL) 6-0, 7-6
6. Kylie Adamek (LSU) def. Tara Vasovic (UL) 6-4, 3-6, 6-2
Doubles
1. #15 Megan Falcon/Mykala Hedberg (LSU) def. Milou Israel/Julie Mazinova (UL) 8-3
2. Angela Dangond/Mia Gordon (UL) def. Nicole Kantor/Staten Spencer (LSU) 8-7(3)
3. Hannah Robinson/Nicole Smith (LSU) def. Marina Ruiz de Gauna/Tara Vasovic (UL) 8-3
Match Notes:
LSU 7-2; National ranking #26
ULL 0-8
Order of Finish:
Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (1,5,4,3,6,2)