NEW ORLEANS – The LSU Lady Tiger tennis team defeated the Tulane Green Wave 4-3 on Wednesday afternoon in New Orleans.
With the win, LSU improved to 1-3 on the spring season while Tulane fell to 2-5.
Much like last season’s match in Baton Rouge, the Lady Tigers and Green Wave engaged in a thrilling contest that came down to the final point.
With the match on the line, LSU sophomore Kaitlin Burns managed to fight off several match points and come from behind to beat Tulane’s Lindsay Dvorak in an epic three-setter 2-6, 7-6 (2), 7-6 (3).
“I am really proud of how we fought back tonight,” said LSU women’s tennis coach Tony Minnis. “We had every reason in the world to quit. Kaitlin Burns displayed lots of heart in fighting off several match points and eventually winning her match.”
Lady Tiger freshman Yvette Vlaar collected her first dual-match singles win of her career, defeating Hila Elster 2-6, 6-3, 6-2. Meanwhile LSU sophomore Ebie Wilson did not have nearly as much trouble in her two-set victory, as she cruised past Elizabeth Hamlin 6-2, 6-0 to extend her singles winning streak to three.
Junior Whitney Wolf dropped her spring singles record to 2-2 as she was upset by the Green Wave’s Miriam Kurdadze 7-6 (5), 3-6, 6-2. Wolf also fell to Kurdadze in three sets in last season’s meeting.
Freshman Ariel Morton and sophomore Keri Frankenberger both dropped two-set matches on Wednesday. Morton was upended by Tulane’s Emma Helisten 6-2, 6-3 while Emma Levy knocked off Frankenberger 6-4, 6-4.
For the first time this season, the Lady Tigers prevailed in the doubles matchup. Morton and Wilson teamed up to coast by Dvorak and Helisten 8-2.
The second doubles match to go final saw Tulane’s ace combo of Kurdadze and Levy prevail 8-5 over Wolf and Burns. However, LSU was able to clinch the point when Vlaar and senior Kylie Adamek topped Elster and Hamlin by an 8-5 margin.
LSU next travels to Dallas, Texas, to face SMU on Sunday at 12 p.m. CST.
Follow the LSU women’s tennis team on Twitter @LSUwten and on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/LSUwten.
LSU 4, Tulane 3
February 16, 2011 at New Orleans, La.
Goldring Tennis Center
Singles
1. Miriam Kurdadze (TU) def. #60 Whitney Wolf (LSU), 7-6 (5), 3-6, 6-2
2. Emma Levy (TU) def. Keri Frankenberger (LSU), 6-4, 6-4
3. Kaitlin Burns (LSU) def. Lindsay Dvorak (TU) 2-6, 7-6 (2), 7-6 (3)
4. Ebie Wilson (LSU) def. Elizabeth Hamlin (TU), 6-2, 6-0
5. Yvette Vlaar (LSU) def. Hila Elster (TU), 2-6, 6-3, 6-2
6. Emma Helisten (TU) def. Ariel Morton (LSU), 6-2, 6-3
Doubles
1. Mariam Kurdadze/Emma Levy (TU) def. Kaitlin Burns/Whitney Wolf (LSU), 8-5
2. Ariel Morton/Ebie Wilson (LSU) def. Lindsay Dvorak/Emma Helisten (TU), 8-2
3. Yvette Vlaar/Kylie Adamek (LSU) def. Hila Elster/ Elizabeth Hamlin (TU), 8-5
Team Records:
LSU: 1-3 (0-0 in SEC)
Tulane: 2-5 (0-0 in Conference USA)
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (4,6,2,5,1,3)