MADISON, Wisc. — Senior Ella Taylor defeated Carla Tur Mari 7-5, 7-5 to clinch No. 18 LSU’s 4-3 win over No. 10 Oklahoma State in the first round of the ITA Team Championships Friday morning at the University of Wisconsin’s Nielsen Tennis Stadium.
“I think this is huge for our team in the sense of confidence, co-head coach Julia Sell said. “They’ve always believed in the process and that they belong. Last year when we beat seventh-ranked Texas A&M in the tournament it was well overdue. We’ve really pulled off bigger wins more seamlessly because we know we belong.”
The Lady Tigers return to action at noon Saturday for the quarterfinal of the Championships against North Carolina. The Tar Heels are ranked No. 5 in the team rankings and are the defending ITA Team Indoor Champions.
LSU is out to a 6-0 start this season, which is tied for the best start since the 2004 team. It’s also tied for the fourth-best start in school history.
The victory over the 10th-ranked Cowgirls is the fourth top-10 win for the program in the last 18 season with two of those coming under Sell. The most recent was last season when LSU defeated No. 7 Texas A&M to advance to the semifinal of the SEC Tournament.
“You have to give Oklahoma State a lot of credit. They started in doubles with a lot of energy,” Sell added. “After doubles, I told the girls we just had to dig in for singles and we’ve been here before. They did a really good job of making some crucial adjustments.”
After dropping the doubles point, sophomore Ryann Foster earned the first singles win to even the match at one all. Foster defeated No. 89 Kelsey Laurente 6-1, 6-3 on court four to improve 5-0 in dual matches. Foster is now on a seventh-match win streak dating back to the fall.
Oklahoma State took a 2-1 lead after No. 46 Viktoriya Luskova defeated Skylar Kuykendall 6-4, 6-3 on court three.
Senior Abby Owens once again tied it for the Lady Tigers with a 6-1, 7-6 (7-3) win over Katarina Stresnakova on five. Freshman Jessica Golovin took the first set on court two but eventually fell to No. 38 Vladica Babic 2-6, 6-4, 6-2.
Singles play was back and forth all morning. Neither team won consecutive team points until Joana Vale Costa defeated No. 27 Katarina Adamovic on court one 7-5, 6-4. Vale Costa is now a perfect 4-0 on court four this season.
Taylor followed with the clinch over Tur Mari to complete the upset over the sixth-seeded Cowgirls. The senior is now 5-1 in dual play this season.
“Ella played that match like a seasoned veteran,” Sell said. “They had quite a battle in that match. She was up 4-0 and all of a sudden down 5-4 in that second set. She regained her composure and that shows her senior experience coming through.”
Follow the Lady Tigers on Twitter @lsuwten and @LSUJuliaSell, on Instagram @LSUWTen and on www.Facebook.com/lsuwten.
Tennis Match Results
#18 LSU 4, #10 Oklahoma State 3
February 5, 2016 at Madison, Wis.
(Nielsen Tennis Stadium)
Singles competition
1. #23 Joana Vale Costa (LSU) def. #27 Katarina Adamovic (OKST) 7-5, 6-4
2. #38 Vladica Babic (OKST) def. #52 Jessica Golovin (LSU) 2-6, 6-4, 6-2
3. #46 Viktoriya Lushkova (OKST) def. #93 Skylar Kuykendall (LSU) 6-3, 6-4
4. Ryann Foster (LSU) def. #89 Kelsey Laurente (OKST) 6-1, 6-3
5. Abby Owens (LSU) def. Katarina Stresnakova (OKST) 6-1, 7-6 (7-3)
6. Ella Taylor (LSU) def. Carla Tur Mari (OKST) 7-5, 7-5
Doubles competition
1. #9 Kelsey Laurente/Maria Alvarez (OKST) vs. Joana Vale Costa/Ryann Foster (LSU) 4-4, unfinished
2. #23 Viktoriya Lushkova/Carla Tur Mari (OKST) def. Skylar Kuykendall/Abby Owens (LSU) 6-1
3. Katarina Adamovic/Vladica Babic (OKST) def. Skylar Holloway/Ella Taylor (LSU) 6-3
Match Notes:
LSU 6-0; National ranking #18
Oklahoma State 6-1; National ranking #10
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3); Singles (4,3,5,2,1,6)
2016 ITA National Women’s Team Indoor Championship – First Round