AUBURN, Ala. — LSU women’s tennis players Joana Vale Costa, Jessica Golovin, Skylar Kuykendall and Abby Owens advanced to the round of 16 in singles play of the ITA Southern Regional Friday at Auburn’s Yarbrough Tennis Center.
Vale Costa, the top-ranked player in the singles draw opened the tournament with a 6-4, 7-5 victory over Northwestern State’s Polina Ivanova. The junior returned to the court in the afternoon with a 6-2, 6-4 win over Nicholls State’s Julia Melendez.
Golovin recorded her first collegiate win over Ole Miss’ Arianne Hartono 7-5, 6-2. The freshman returned to the court and defeated Tulane’s Ipek Birol 6-1, 6-1.
Kuykendall racked up wins over Reka Muller of Auburn (6-1, 2-6, 6-2) and Troy’s Jiayuan Xue (6-3, 6-1).
Owens rounded out the bottom half of the bracket with victories over Louisiana Tech’s Jazmin Britos 7-5, 6-1 and Northwestern State’s Polina Mutel 6-2, 6-1 to advance to the round of 16.
Sophomore Ryann Foster record a 6-0, 6-1 win over McNeese State’s Julia Kral in the opening round of competition but fell 6-7, 3-6 to Maje El Kamash of Ole Miss in the second round.
In addition to the success in singles play, all three doubles teams advanced to the second round of competition. Owens and Kuykendall, the fifth-ranked doubles team in the draw, defeated Laura Vakova and Alexandra Stiteler of South Alabama, 8-2.
Foster and Vale Costa teamed up for the first time this season and defeated Jacque Katz and Elena Muller of Tulane, 8-1. Taylor and Golovin also defeated Mississippi State’s Georgina Patrasc and Anastasia Rentoull, 8-5.
The Lady Tigers return to action tomorrow for singles and doubles play at Auburn. Doubles matches begin at 9 a.m. CT with a chance to advance to the semifinals. Singles play of the round of 16 begins at 1 p.m. CT with a chance to advance to the quarterfinals.
Results of the ITA Southern Regional will be available online on Twitter @lsuwten and @LSUJuliaSell, on Instagram @LSUWTen and on www.Facebook.com/lsuwten.
ITA Southern Regional
Day One Results
Auburn, Ala. (Yarbrough Tennis Center)
Singles competition
64 Joana Vale Costa (LSU) def. Polina Ivanova (Northwestern State) 6-4, 7-5
32 Joana Vale Costa (LSU) def. Julia Melendez (Nicholls State) 6-2, 6-4
64 Ryann Foster (LSU) def. Julia Kral (McNeese State University) 6-0, 6-1
32 Mai El Kamash (Ole Miss) def. Ryann Foster (LSU) 7-6, 6-3
64 Jessica Golovin (LSU) def. Arianne Hartono (Ole Miss) 7-5, 6-2
32 Jessica Golovin (LSU) def. Ipek Birol (Tulane) 6-1, 6-1
64 Alexandra Starkova (Louisiana Tech) def. Ella Taylor (LSU) 1-6, 6-1, 6-4
64 Skylar Kuykendall (LSU) def. Reka Muller (Auburn) 6-1, 2-6, 6-2
32 Skylar Kuykendall (LSU) def. Jiayuan Xue (Troy) 6-3, 6-4
64 Abigail Owens (LSU) def. Jazmin Britos (Louisiana Tech) 7-5, 6-1
32 Abigail Owens (LSU) def. Polina Mutel (Northwestern State) 6-2, 6-1
Doubles competition
32 Abigail Owens/Skylar Kuykendall (LSU) def. Alexandria Stiteler/Laura Valkova (South Alabama) 8-2
32 Ryann Foster/Joana Vale Costa (LSU) def. Elena Muller/Jacqui Katz (Tulane) 8-1
32 Jessica Golovin/Ella Taylor (LSU) def. Georgiana Patrasc/Anastasia Rentouli (Mississippi State) 8-5