STARKVILLE, Miss. — The No. 41 LSU women’s tennis team (15-7, 5-4 SEC) completed the SEC weekend sweep for the first time since 2011 and extended their winning streak to four matches with a 4-2 victory over No. 35 Mississippi State (13-7, 3-6 SEC) Sunday afternoon at the A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre.
“This has been an excellent road weekend for us to come out with victories in two tough environments,” head coach Julia Sell said. “I couldn’t be more proud of the way we adjusted. Everyone did a phenomenal job this weekend.”
With a 3-2 lead, junior Ella Taylor clinched the match for LSU on court five 6-1, 7-5. Taylor improved to 16-6 on the year, 5-4 in conference play and is on a three-match winning streak.
Joana Vale Costa, ranked 39th, went out and made quick work of 56th-ranked Jasmine Lee after LSU dropped the doubles point. Vale Costa defeated Lee 6-1, 6-1 on court one. The sophomore is 11-6 and 5-3 in SEC play on court one as well as 7-7 against ranked foes.
Skylar Kuykendall extended her winning streak to eight matches and gave LSU a 2-1 lead with a 6-1, 6-3 win on court two over No. 81 Georgina Pastrasc. The junior is now 19-3 in dual matches and 7-2 in conference.
After Noel Scott dropped her match on court four, Abby Owens collected her first ranked win of the year with a 7-5, 6-1 win on court three.
Sykar Holloway split her match against Timea Guibe 4-6, 6-4 as the match went unfinished on court six.
The Lady Tigers return home for practice before heading back for another weekend on the road. LSU travels to Fayetteville, Arkansas to take on the Razorbacks 1 p.m. Friday at the Billingsley Tennis Center
For more information on the program, follow the Lady Tigers on Twitter @lsuwten and @LSUJuliaSell, on Instagram @LSUWTen and on www.Facebook.com/lsuwten.
#41 LSU 4, #35 Mississippi State 2
Mar 29, 2015 at Starkville, Miss.
(A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre)
Singles competition:
1. #39 Joana Vale Costa (LSU) def. #56 Jasmine Lee (MSU) 6-1, 6-1
2. #69 Skylar Kuykendall (LSU) def. #81 Georgina Patrasc (MSU) 6-1, 6-3
3. Abigail Owens (LSU) def. #124 Louise Ronaldson (MSU) 7-5, 6-1
4. Martina Frantova (MSU) def. Noel Scott (LSU) 6-3, 6-3
5. Ella Taylor (LSU) def. Jennifer Brown (MSU) 6-1, 7-5
6. Timea Guibe (MSU) vs. Skylar Holloway (LSU) 4-6, 6-4, unfinished
Doubles competition:
1. Martina Frantova/Georgina Patrasc (MSU) def. #32 Joana Vale Costa/Noel Scott (LSU) 8-6
2. Jasmine Lee/Louise Ronaldson (MSU) def. #66 Skylar Kuykendall/Abigail Owens (LSU) 8-7
3. Amanda Atanasson/Skylar Holloway (LSU) def. Timea Guibe/Naomi Tran (MSU) 8-5
Match Notes:
LSU 15-7, 5-4 SEC; National ranking #41
Mississippi State 13-7, 3-6 SEC; National ranking #35
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (1,2,4,3,5)