BATON ROUGE, La. — The No. 45 LSU Women’s Tennis team dropped the doubles point but roared back to win five straight singles courts and earn a 5-2 victory over No. 26 South Carolina on Sunday at “Dub” Robinson Stadium.
LSU defeated South Carolina for the first time since 2011. It also marked the highest ranked win under third-year head coach Julia Sell.
“It was an absolute battle out there,” Sell said. “The match was closer than the score showed. Even in doubles I loved our energy and the way we were playing. This was the most disciplined and focused this team has played this season.”
After dropping the doubles point, LSU fought back with gutsy performances on every singles court. Skylar Kuykendall opened up with a 6-1, 6-4 win on court two over No. 124 Caroline Dailey.
Ella Taylor made quick work of Hadley Berg on court five 6-4, 6-1 to give LSU a 2-1 lead.
After dropping the first set, 6-2, Ella Taylor took the next two sets to defeat Meghan Blevins on court four.
Joana Vale Costa got off to a quick start over Elixane Lechemia on court one. The sophomore dropped the second set and was down 1-4 in the third set. Vale Costa fought back to defeat Lechemia 6-2, 3-6, 4-6 and clinch the match for LSU.
“I’m really proud of how Joana played. She played so well in the first set and let of the gas in the second set. It took being down 1-4 in the third to recover,” Sell added. “She got right in and reeled off five straight to clinch the match for us.”
Noel Scott defeated Brigit Folland on court three 7-6, 7-5 on court three to give LSU a 5-1 lead.
Skylar Holloway competed in a hard-fought match on court six against Ximena Siles Luna but ultimately lost in a third-set super tiebreak.
LSU returned after the match against the Gamecocks and defeated Alcorn State, 7-0,.
The Lady Tigers team of Holloway/Amanda Atanasson and Scott/Taylor took the wins on courts two and three.
Madara Straume earned the first singles point for LSU on court six. Straume double bagelled Anna Kazarina on court six.
Holloway followed on court four with a 6-0, 6-1 over Ekaterina Potapova to extend LSU’s lead to 3-0.
Atanasson clinched the match for the Lady Tigers on court five with a 6-2, 6-0 decision over Patricia Normand.
Taylor defeated Ivana Boberic 6-2, 6-0 on court three to give LSU a 5-0 lead.
LSU closed out the match with wins on court one and two. Kuykendall defeated Aida Kelic on court one 6-1, 6-1. Scott defeated Riobham Ryan-Bovey 6-2, 6-4 on court two to secure the sweep.
The Lady Tigers return to action Wednesday at 4 p.m. against Nicholls State.
For more information on the program, follow the Lady Tigers on Twitter @lsuwten and @LSUJuliaSell, on Instagram @LSUWTen and on www.Facebook.com/lsuwten.
#46 LSU 5, #26 South Carolina 2
Mar 08, 2015 at Baton Rouge, La.
(W.T. ‘Dub’ Robinson Stadium)
Singles Competition
1. Joana Vale Costa (LSU) def. #121 Elixane Lechemia (SC) 6-2, 3-6, 6-4
2. Skylar Kuykendall (LSU) def. #124 Caroline Dailey (SC) 6-1, 6-4
3. Noel Scott (LSU) def. Brigit Folland (SC) 7-6, 7-5
4. Abigail Owens (LSU) def. Meghan Blevins (SC) 2-6, 7-5, 6-2
5. Ella Taylor (LSU) def. Hadley Berg (SC) 6-4, 6-1
6. Ximena Siles Luna (SC) def. Skylar Holloway (LSU) 7-6, 4-6, 1-0 (10-7)
Doubles Competition
1. #58 Caroline Dailey/Hadley Berg (SC) def. Joana Vale Costa/Noel Scott (LSU) 8-5
2. Brigit Folland/Meghan Blevins (SC) def. Skylar Kuykendall/Abigail Owens (LSU) 8-3
3. Skylar Holloway/Amanda Atanasson (LSU) vs. Elixane Lechemia/Megen Cochran (SC) 7-5, unfinished
Match Notes:
South Carolina 8-5, 1-3 SEC; National ranking #26
LSU 10-5, 2-2 SEC; National ranking #46
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1); Singles (2,5,4,1,3,6)
A- 48
#45 LSU 7, Alcorn State 0
March 8, 2015 at Baton Rouge, La.
W.T. ‘Dub’ Robinson Stadium
Singles competition:
1. #112 Skylar Kuykendall (LSU) def. Aida Kelic (ASU) 6-1, 6-1
2. Noel Scott (LSU) def. Siobham Ryan-Bovey (ASU) 6-2, 6-4
3. Ella Taylor (LSU) def. Ivana Boberic (ASU) 6-2, 6-0
4. Skylar Holloway (LSU) def. Ekaterina Potapova (ASU) 6-0, 6-1
5. Amanda Atanasson (LSU) def. Patricia Normand (ASU) 6-2, 6-0
6. Madara Straume (LSU) def. Anna Kazarina (ASU) 6-0, 6-0
Doubles competition:
1. Skylar Kuykendall/Abigail Owens (LSU) vs. Aida Kelic/Ivana Boberic (ASU) 5-2, unfinished
2. Skylar Holloway/Amanda Atanasson (LSU) def. Siobham Ryan-Bovey/Ekaterina Potapova (ASU) 6-1
3. Noel Scott/Ella Taylor (LSU) def. Aakanksha Punj/Patricia Normand (ASU) 6-2
Match Notes:
Alcorn State 4-5
LSU 11-5, 2-2 SEC; National ranking #45
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3); Singles (6,4,5,3,1,2)