WACO, Texas — LSU’s doubles pair of Boris Arias and Jordan Daigle knocked off Notre Dame’s 15th-ranked duo of Alex Lawson and Billy Pecor in the NCAA Doubles Round of 16 on Friday to earn All-America honors and a spot in Saturday’s quarterfinal.
Arias and Daigle, ranked 14th in the nation by the ITA, dropped the first set in a tiebreaker, 7-6, before turning the tables on the Irish to even the match with a 7-6 victory in set 2.
“We knew this would be a tough match,” said Arias. “We kept playing and kept trying and we were able to pull it out. We were one point away from elimination but we never gave up.”
Friday’s match marks the second consecutive time that the duo came from behind to advance in the tournament. Head coach Jeff Brown said the duo’s ability to separate each set in their minds is key to their penchant for clutch comebacks.
Daigle and Arias played the entire season together and that consistency and experience made itself evident on Friday, Brown said.
“They are able to separate set-to-set very well and they have the potential to get hot at any time,” Brown said. “It is a matter of having enough belief and the fortitude and guts to give it all you have regardless of the situation.”
The Tigers took the deciding set, 7-5, and will advance to face Michigan State’s 18th-ranked Harry Jadun and John Patrick Mullane – who defeated South Florida’s Oliver Pramming and Justin Roberts, 7-6 (0), 6-4 – on Saturday at noon CT.
Despite coming from behind twice in as many matches in the tournament so far, Daigle said he and his partner would like to start off stronger in tomorrow’s match.
“We need to go out and start well,” Daigle said. “A good start is very important in this tournament. Either way we know we can win if we are playing our best.”
Daigle and Arias are the 26th and 27th players from LSU to earn All-American honors in program history. The Tigers’ quarterfinal match will take place at 2 pm CT on Saturday.
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.
NCAA Doubles Championships
May 22, 2015 at Waco, Texas
(Hurd Tennis Center)
Round of 16
#14 Jordan Dagile/Boris Arias (LSU) def. #15 Alex Lawson/Billy Pecor (ND), 6-7, 7-6, 7-5