KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — With LSU up 3-2 and two courts still playing, No. 38 Joana Vale Costa defeated Joana Henderson on court one to lead the LSU women’s tennis team to a 5-2 win over Tennessee Sunday afternoon at the Goodfriend Tennis Center. Vale Costa dropped the first set 6-7 but never looked back as she won the next two sets 6-1, 6-4.
“We had a really slow start, and I thought by the end of doubles we gained momentum,” head coach Julia Sell said. “When we broke for singles I told them we had to get back to work. They came out for singles with so much energy and they were focused. They just took care of business. I think that’s the best we competed as a whole all year long.”
LSU improved to 9-4 and 1-1 in the Southeastern Conference with the win over Tennessee. The Lady Volunteers dropped to 8-6 on the year and 0-2 in SEC play.
Tennessee opened up by winning the doubles point. The Lady Vols took wins on courts one and three. The duo of Abby Owens and Skylar Kuykendall defeated Eve Repic and Laurence Guevermont 8-2 on court two.
The Lady Tigers recovered nicely and took three of the next four courts to get out to a 3-2 lead. Abby Owens made quick work of Victoria Olivarez on court four 6-1, 6-1.
Skylar Holloway notched her second SEC victory with the 6-4, 6-0 decision over Tennessee’s Tiffany Tavares on court six.
Repic ended the streak for LSU on court two by defeating Noel Scott 6-2, 6-2.
No. 112 Skylar Kuykendall took back the momentum for LSU with her 6-3, 7-6 win on court three over Caitlyn Williams of Tennessee. Kuykendall is now 11-2 on the year for LSU.
Vale Costa clinched the match for LSU on court one and moved to 6-4 on the year.
With the match clinched for the Lady Tigers, Ella Taylor defeated Guevremont on court five 6-2, 4-6, 7-5.
LSU returns for its first Southeastern Conference home match on Friday at 4 p.m. against Florida.
Follow the Lady Tigers on Twitter @lsuwten and @LSUJuliaSell, on Instagram @LSUWTen and on www.Facebook.com/lsuwten.
# 45 LSU 5, Tennessee 2
March 1, 2015
at Knoxville, Tenn. (Goodfriend Tennis Center)
Singles Competition:
1. #38 Joana Vale Costa (LSU) def. Joanna Henderson (UT-W) 6-7 (4-7), 6-1, 6-4
2. Eve Repic (UT-W) def. Noel Scott (LSU) 6-2, 6-2
3. #112 Skylar Kuykendall (LSU) def. Caitlyn Williams (UT-W) 6-3, 7-6 (7-4)
4. Abigail Owens (LSU) def. Victoria Olivarez (UT-W) 6-1, 6-1
5. Ella Taylor (LSU) def. Laurence Guevremont (UT-W) 6-2, 4-6, 7-5
6. Skylar Holloway (LSU) def. Tiffany Tavares (UT-W) 6-4, 6-0
Doubles Competition:
1. #34 Joanna Henderson/Caitlyn Williams (UT-W) def. Joana Vale Costa/Noel Scott (LSU) 8-4
2. Abigail Owens/Skylar Kuykendall (LSU) def. Eve Repic/Laurence Guevremont (UT-W) 8-2
3. Tiffany Tavares/Victoria Olivarez (UT-W) def. Ella Taylor/Skylar Holloway (LSU) 8-3
Match Notes:
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (4,6,2,3,1,5)
Match played indoors (temperature)