HOUSTON, Texas – The LSU Lady Tiger tennis team fell to Rice 4-3 Tuesday afternoon in Houston, Texas.
With the loss, LSU fell to 0-3 overall while Rice improved to 4-2.
“I am disappointed with the loss, but I am also proud of this young team,” said LSU women’s tennis coach Tony Minnis. “This team is coming together. We fought hard today and had our chances, but were unable to get it done.”
The Lady Tigers were yet again unable to pick up the doubles point on Tuesday as all three doubles teams fell in their respective matches.
In singles competition, No. 33 Whitney Wolf led LSU in the No. 1 slot. The junior from Pride, La., knocked off Rice’s Rebekka Hanle for the second time in as many seasons, this time by a score of 6-4, 7-6.
Sophomores Kaitlin Burns and Ebie Wilson continued their solid play, as they both picked up their second consecutive singles wins. Burns came from behind to defeat Jessica Jackson in three sets 3-6, 6-4, 6-4. Meanwhile Wilson only needed two sets to dispatch Daniella Trigo 6-1, 6-4.
Keri Frankenberger battled hard in her first set against Dominique Harmath before eventually falling 7-5. The Rice freshman got up early on Frankenberger in the second set, however, and never looked back, taking the set 6-0 and the match 7-5, 6-0.
LSU freshmen Ariel Morton and Yvette Vlaar struggled from the start in their matches and could never get on track. Morton fell to Rice freshman Kim Anicete 6-1, 7-5 while Vlaar bowed out to Ana Guzman 6-1, 6-2.
The Lady Tigers will take a break from action before traveling to New Orleans to face Tulane on Feb. 16.
Follow the LSU women’s tennis team on Twitter @LSUwten and on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/LSUwten.
No. 48 Rice 4, LSU 3
February 8, 2011 at Houston, Texas
Jake Hess Tennis Stadium
Singles
1. #33 Whitney Wolf (LSU) def. Rebekka Hänle (RICE) 6-4, 7-6 (7-5)
2. Dominique Harmath (RICE) def. Keri Frankenberger (LSU) 7-5, 6-0
3. Kaitlin Burns (LSU) def. Jessica Jackson (RICE) 3-6, 6-4, 6-4
4. Ana Guzman (RICE) def. Yvette Vlaar (LSU) 6-1, 6-2
5. Ebie Wilson (LSU) def. Daniella Trigo (RICE) 6-1, 6-4
6. Kim Anicete (RICE) def. Ariel Morton (LSU) 6-1, 7-5
Doubles
1. Rebekka Hänle/Ana Guzman (RICE) def. Whitney Wolf/Keri Frankenberger (LSU) 8-0
2. Alex Rasch/Dominique Harmath (RICE) def. Kaitlin Burns/Yvette Vlaar (LSU) 8-3
3. Jessica Jackson/Daniella Trigo (RICE) def. Ariel Morton/Ebie Wilson (LSU) 8-6
Team Records:
LSU 0-3 (0-0 in SEC)
Rice 4-2 (0-0 in Conference USA)
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (4,5,2,1,6,3)