ATLANTA — Senior Ella Taylor defeated Jarret Fisher 6-3, 6-1, to clinch No. 21 LSU’s, 4-0, victory over No. 35 DePaul in the opening match of the Georgia Tech Regional Saturday afternoon at the Ken Byers Tennis Complex.
With the win, LSU advances to the championship match against either host Georgia Tech or William and Mary Sunday at 1 p.m. The winner will advance to the NCAA National Team Indoor Championships Feb. 5-8 in Madison, Wisconsin.
“We came together and beat a very good DePaul team,” co-head coach Julia Sell said. “I really respect how that team competes, and taking a victory today is exactly what we needed to prepare us for tomorrow.”
The Lady Tigers started out strong by winning the doubles point. Ella Taylor and Skylar Holloway started things out with a 6-3 win over Zaina Sufi and Jarret Fisher. Skylar Kuykendall and Abby Owens teamed up on court two to clinch the point with a6-4 win over DePaul’s Patricia Lancranjan and Marina Cozac.
In the opening of singles play, sophomore Ryann Foster defeated Rebeca Mitera 6-1, 6-4. Kuykendall, ranked No. 93 in the ITA singles poll, defeated Lancranjan 6-0, 6-3 to put the Lady Tigers up 3-0.
After the Blue Demons pushed courts two and five to a third set, Taylor clinched the first ranked win of the year for LSU.
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#21 LSU 4, DePaul 0
Jan 23, 2016 at Atlanta, Ga.
(Ken Byers Tennis Complex)
Singles competition
1. #23 Joana Vale Costa (LSU) vs. Yuliya Shupenia (DU) 6‐3, unfinished
2. #52 Jessica Golovin (LSU) vs. Marina Cozac (DU) 6‐3, 4‐6, unfinished
3. #93 Skylar Kuykendall (LSU) def. Patricia Lancranjan (DU) 6‐0, 6‐3
4. Ryann Foster (LSU) def. Rebeca Mitrea (DU) 6‐1, 6‐4
5. Abby Owens (LSU) vs. Zaina Sufi (DU) 6‐2, 4‐6, unfinished
6. Ella Taylor (LSU) def. Jarret Fisher (DU) 6‐3, 6‐1
Doubles competition
1. Joana Vale Costa/Ryann Foster (LSU) vs. #37 Rebeca Mitrea/Yuliya Shupenia (DU) 5‐4, unfinished
2. Skylar Kuykendall/Abby Owens (LSU) def. Patricia Lancranjan/Marina Cozac (DU) 6‐4
3. Ella Taylor/Skylar Holloway (LSU) def. Zaina Sufi/Jarret Fisher (DU) 6‐3
Match Notes:
DePaul 0‐1
LSU 3‐0; National ranking #21
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2); Singles (4,3,6)
T‐2:00