HOUSTON, Texas. — Pushed to a third set, junior Joana Vale Costa defeated Lindsey Hodge 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 to clinch No. 18 LSU’s match over No. 31 Rice Sunday afternoon at the George R. Brown Tennis Center.
The LSU women’s tennis team improved to 5-0 overall with the 5-2 victory over Rice (2-1). The five-match win streak to begin the 2016 season is the best for the program since the 2004 team started out 6-0.
“I thought we did an exceptional job of handling an array of adversity today,” co-head coach Julia Sell said. “You find out how tough you are in matches like these, and we are very proud of this team.”
To begin the match, Abby Owens and Skylar Kuykendall dropped court two in doubles play, 3-6. Ella Taylor and Skylar Holloway defeated Savannah Durkin and Fernanda Astete 6-3 on court three.
With all eyes on court one, the first-year team of Vale Costa and Ryann Foster clinched the doubles point with a 7-6 (8-6) victory over Allison Ho and Hodge.
For the seventh straight match, LSU started out with a doubles victory. The streak is the best for the program since at least the 2003 season. The team is now 6-1 overall during the streak when winning the doubles point.
After doubles play, the Lady Tigers started strong by taking the first set on four of six courts. The Owls struck first in singles play to even the match at 1-1 overall. No. 40 Katherine Ip defeated freshman Jessica Golovin on court two 6-1, 6-1.
With three courts pushed to a third set, senior Ella Taylor defeated Astele 6-4, 6-4 on court six. Foster put LSU up 3-1 with a 7-5, 6-3 win on court four over Ho.
After Vale Costa clinched it for LSU, just Owens and Kuykendall remained in singles play. Owens dropped her match on court five 2-6, 6-3, 6-3.Kuykendall finished the day with a 4-6, 7-6, 6-2 victory over Smith on court three to make it 5-2.
LSU returns home for practice before heading to Madison, Wisconsin for the ITA Team Indoor Championships Feb. 5-7. Draws for the championships will be released later this week.
Follow the Lady Tigers on Twitter @lsuwten and @LSUJuliaSell, on Instagram @LSUWTen and on www.Facebook.com/lsuwten.
Tennis Match Results
January 31, 2016
Houston, Texas (George R. Brown Tennis Center)
LSU 5, #31 Rice 2
Singles competition
1. #23 Joana Vale Costa (LSU) def. Lindsey Hodge (RICE) 6-2, 3-6, 6-1
2. #40 Katherine Ip (RICE) def. #52 Jessica Golovin (LSU) 6-1, 6-1
3. #93 Skylar Kuykendall (LSU) def. Emily Smith (RICE) 4-6, 7-6, 6-2
4. Ryann Foster (LSU) def. Alison Ho (RICE) 7-5, 6-3
5. Savannah Durkin (RICE) def. Abby Owens (LSU) 2-6, 6-3, 6-3
6. Ella Taylor (LSU) def. Fernanda Astete (RICE) 6-4, 6-4
Doubles competition
1. Joana Vale Costa/Ryann Foster (LSU) def. Alison Ho/Lindsey Hodge (RICE) 7-6 (8-6)
2. Katherine Ip/Emily Smith (RICE) def. Abby Owens/Skylar Kuykendall (LSU) 6-3
3. Ella Taylor/Skylar Holloway (LSU) def. Savannah Durkin/Fernanda Astete (RICE) 6-3
Match Notes:
LSU 5-0
Rice 2-1; National ranking #31
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (2,6,4,1,5,3)
T-3:00