TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The No. 23 LSU men’s tennis team (14-3, 3-2 SEC) notched their first Southeastern Conference road win of the season on Friday when they outlasted Alabama (12-11, 2-4 SEC) in Tuscaloosa with a clutch 4-3 win.
Senior Chris Simpson clinched the victory for the Tigers with his tough three-set victory on court two.
“He was ahead early and he showed poise to get another chance to win,” said head coach Jeff Brown. “It was a good show of toughness and a good team win. We showed a lot of hear and it is good to see us get a win when we are not at our best.”
In a match featuring two ranked doubles teams, the Tigers conceded the doubles point for only the third time this season. This was the first time the Tigers won a match in which they dropped the doubles point.
Coach Brown said he was proud of the singles lineup and their ability to close out the win. The Tigers did what was needed to steal a road win in the grueling SEC.
“They jumped on us in doubles,” Brown said. “We were able to maintain our confidence anyway and we showed a lot of trust in each other. We showed fight which is what you have to do on the road.”
Next up for the Tigers is a Sunday match at Mississippi State. Match time is set for 1 p.m. CST.
For up-to-date information and behind-the-scenes access on the Tigers, fans can follow the LSU men’s tennis team on Twitter and Instagram at @lsutennis and on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/lsutennis.
LSU vs Alabama
March 20, 2015 at Tuscaloosa, Ala.
(Alabama Tennis Stadium)
#23 LSU 4, #60 Alabama 3
Singles competition
1. #85 Jordan Daigle (LSU) def. Korey Lovett (UA) 7-6 (7-3), 6-4
2. #117 Chris Simpson (LSU) def. B. O’Shaughnessey (UA) 6-4, 3-6, 7-5
3. Nikko Madregallejo (UA) def. Tam Trinh (LSU) 7-6 (7-1), 6-4
4. Boris Arias (LSU) def. Danny Kerznerman (UA) 6-3, 1-6, 6-1
5. Stuart Kenyon (UA) def. Justin Butsch (LSU) 6-4, 2-6, 6-3
6. Andrew Korinek (LSU) def. Sam Edwards (UA) 7-5, 7-6 (7-4)
Doubles competition
1. #32 Korey Lovett/B. O’Shaughnessey (UA) def. #18 Jordan Daigle/Boris Arias (LSU) 6-4
2. Sean Donohue/Stuart Kenyon (UA) vs. #71 Eric Perez/Tam Trinh (LSU) 4-4, unfinished
3. Sam Edwards/Nikko Madregallejo (UA) def. Chris Simpson/Justin Butsch (LSU) 6-1
Match Notes:
Louisiana State 14-3, 4-2 SEC; National ranking #23 Alabama 12-11, 2-4 SEC; National ranking #60 Order of finish: Doubles (3,1); Singles (1,4,3,6,5,2) Play suspended at 6:18 due to rain and resumed at 6:27. T-3:08 A-82
Check out the clincher from Simpson! #LSU wins it 4-3 over the Alabama Crimson Tide! pic.twitter.com/Jg033y3bvU
— LSU Men’s Tennis (@LSUTennis) March 21, 2015