TUSCALOOSA, Ala.– After jumping out ahead early and claiming the doubles point, the 18th-ranked LSU women’s tennis team could not keep the lead as they fell to Alabama, 4-3.
In doubles, 79th-ranked Paulina Bigos and Taylor Lindsey of Alabama (10-0, 2-0 SEC) finished first on court two as they defeated Hannah Robinson and Whitney Wolf 8-3.
No. 17 Megan Falcon and Mykala Hedberg took down 64th-ranked Courtney McLane and Tiffany Welcher 8-6 on court one as they carry a nine-match win streak. The duo advanced their record to 22-3.
Nicole Kantor and Staten Spencer clinched the doubles point as they raced past Meritt Emery and Shelley Godwin 8-6 on court three.
In singles, 12th-ranked Falcon finished first on court one when she took down No. 82 Welcher 6-3, 6-3. Falcon leads the team in singles victories at 22-5 as she comes just 13 short of 100 career victories.
Lindsey finished second on court two as she beat Nicole Smith 6-2, 6-2. Robinson fell to Emery 6-2, 6-4, tying the score at 2-2.
After a hard-fought three-set battle on court three, Kantor could not hang on as she was defeated by Bigos 6-3, 3-6, 6-4.
Lady Tiger Spencer took the first set against Godwin, but the Tide quickly responded by clinching the overall match when Godwin defeated Spencer 3-6, 6-2, 6-2.
Senior Hedberg added the final point to the board for the Lady Tigers as she rallied back to defeat McLane 4-6, 6-3, 6-3.
“It was a very close and disappointing loss. We fought hard but came up a little short. We have to get back to the drawing board and work to get after a very good Vanderbilt team that’s going to come in on Friday,” said head coach Tony Minnis.
LSU (7-4, 0-2 SEC) will be back in action Friday to square off against Vanderbilt at home at the W.T. “Dub” Robinson Stadium. First serve is slated for 3 p.m. CDT.
#37 Alabama 4, #18 LSU 3
March 8, 2009 at Tuscaloosa, Ala. (Tennis Stadium)
Singles
1. #12 Megan Falcon (LSU) def. #82 Tiffany Welcher (UA) 6-3, 6-3
2. Mykala Hedberg (LSU) def. Courtney McLane (UA) 4-6, 6-3, 6-3
3. Paulina Bigos (UA) def. Nicole Kantor (LSU) 6-3, 3-6, 6-4
4. Meritt Emery (UA) def. Hannah Robinson (LSU) 6-3, 6-4
5. Shelley Godwin (UA) def. Staten Spencer (LSU) 3-6, 6-2, 6-2
6. Taylor Lindsey (UA) def. Nicole Smith (LSU) 6-2, 6-2
Doubles
1. #17 Megan Falcon/Mykala Hedberg (LSU) def. #64 Courtney McLane/Tiffany Welcher (UA) 8-6
2. #79 Paulina Bigos/Taylor Lindsey (UA) def. Hannah Robinson/Whitney Wolf (LSU) 8-3
3. Nicole Kantor/Staten Spencer (LSU) def. Meritt Emery/Shelley Godwin (UA) 8-6
Order of Finish: Doubles (2, 1, 3); Singles (1, 6, 4, 3, 5, 2)
Match Notes:
LSU 7-4 (0-2 SEC); National ranking 18
Alabama 10-0 (2-0 SEC); National ranking 37