BATON ROUGE, La. — The No. 38 LSU Women’s Tennis team (2-0) opened up the 2015 season with wins over McNeese State (0-2) and Southern (1-1) Sunday afternoon at W.T. ‘Dub’ Robinson Stadium.
With the win over the Cowgirls and Jaguars, LSU has won every dual meet opener under head coach Julia Sell.
“It’s certainly good for them to have played two solid matches,” Sell said. “I think McNeese and Southern competed extremely hard and it was a great way to start the season. I think we were very tentative and passive at times because we were so excited to start the season. It was good to have a doubleheader to work it all out.”
LSU got off to a fast start with a 6-1 win over Southern. The doubles team of Joana Vale Costa and Noel Scott defeated Hannah Brett and Julia Kral of McNeese State 6-3.
In singles, Ella Taylor got things started with a 6-1, 6-0 win over Andreea Nenu. Skylar Kuykendall clinched the match with a 6-2, 6-0 win over Vivien Borbely.
No. 74 Abby Owens extended the LSU lead to 5-0 with a 6-0, 6-3 win over Anastasija Trubich.
No. 115 Noel Scott fell to Hannah Brett on court two by a score of 6-3, 1-6, 3-6. No. 28 Joana Vale Costa fought back after losing the first set to defeat Julia Kral 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 on court one.
The Lady Tigers returned after an hour break and defeated Southern 7-0.
LSU got off to another hot start with Owens and Kuykendall taking the court one win over Darnesha Moore and Gabrielle Moore 6-0. Vale Costa and Taylor clinched the point for the women with a 6-1 decision over Morgan Taylor and Kendall Bunch.
LSU’s Taylor clinched the first singles point with a 6-2, 6-0 win over G. Moore. Freshman Amanda Atanasson clinched her first collegiate victory in a 6-1, 6-2 decision.
Kuykendall extended the lead to 3-0 with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Syori. Sophomore Skyler Holloway then defeated Taylor 6-1, 6-2.
Vale Costa clinched her second court one win of the day over D. Moore 6-1, 6-3.
Owens wrapped up the meet with a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Materre. ‘
“To get a couple of really good wins going into a competitive kickoff weekend is ideal,” Sell added. “That’s exactly what we needed. We’ll continue to practice and improve upon the things we struggled with today and go up there as prepared as we can be.”
LSU travels to Chapel Hill, North Carolina for the ITA Kickoff Weekend. The Lady Tigers take on Boston College at 8 a.m. CT on Saturday. LSU returns to the courts Sunday to face either North Carolina or Minnesota.
Follow the Lady Tigers on Twitter @lsuwten and @LSUJuliaSell, on Instagram @LSUWTen and on www.Facebook.com/lsuwten.
McNeese State Cowgirls vs LSU
Jan 18, 2015 at Baton Rouge, La. (W.T. ‘Dub’ Robinson Stadium)
#38 LSU 6, McNeese State Cowgirls 1
Singles competition
1. #28 Joana Vale Costa (LSU) def. Julia Kral (MCN) 4-6, 7-5, 6-3
2. Hannah Brett (MCN) def. #115 Noel Scott (LSU) 3-6, 6-1, 6-3
3. #65 Skylar Kuykendall (LSU) def. Vivien Borbely (MCN) 6-2, 6-0
4. #74 Abby Owens (LSU) def. Anastasija Trubich (MCN) 6-0, 6-3
5. Ella Taylor (LSU) def. Andreea Nenu (MCN) 6-1, 6-0
6. Skylar Holloway (LSU) def. No player (MCN), by forfeit
Doubles competition
1. Joana Vale Costa/Noel Scott (LSU) def. Hannah Brett/Julia Kral (MCN) 6-3
2. Skylar Holloway/Amanda Atanasson (LSU) vs. Anastasija Trubich/Vivien Borbely (MCN) 5-4, unfinished
3. Abby Owens/Skylar Kuykendall (LSU) def. No player/No player (MCN), by forfeit
Match Notes:
McNeese State Cowgirls 0-1
LSU 0-0; National ranking #38
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1); Singles (6,5,3,4,2,1)
Southern U. Jaguars vs LSU
Jan 18, 2015 at Baton Rouge, La. (W.T. ‘Dub’ Robinson Stadium)
#38 LSU 7, Southern U. Jaguars 0
Singles Competition
1. #28 Joana Vale Costa (LSU) def. Moore, Darnesha (SUBR) 6-1, 6-3
2. #65 Skylar Kuykendall (LSU) def. Syori, Laura (SUBR) 6-3, 6-2
3. #74 Abby Owens (LSU) def. Amanda Materre (SUBR) 6-4, 6-2
4.
Ella Taylor (LSU) def. Moore, Gabrielle (SUBR) 6-2, 6-0
5. Skylar Holloway (LSU) def. Taylor, Morgan (SUBR) 6-1, 6-2
6. Amanda Atanasson (LSU) def. Davis, Camara (SUBR) 6-1, 6-2
Doubles Competition
1. Abby Owens/Skylar Kuykendall (LSU) def. Moore, Darnesha/Moore, Gabrielle (SUBR) 6-0
2. Joana Vale Costa/Ella Taylor (LSU) def. Taylor, Morgan/Bunch, Kendall (SUBR) 6-1
3. Skylar Holloway/Amanda Atanasson (LSU) vs. Neal, Nicki/Syori, Laura (SUBR) 5-0, unfinished
Match Notes:
Southern U. Jaguars 1-0
LSU 1-0; National ranking #38
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1); Singles (4,6,2,5,1,3) In doubles, court 3 remained unfinished