Columbia, S.C. – The No. 25 LSU women’s tennis team dropped its first SEC match of the season when the Tigers fell to No. 22 South Carolina by a score of 4-1 on Sunday, March 8, at the Columbia Tennis Center.
With the loss, LSU falls to 10-3 in the dual season and 3-1 in the SEC.
Selling Points
“Credit to South Carolina for their play today,” co-head coach Michael Sell said. “As disappointing as some aspects were today, we still managed to put ourselves in winning positions on most courts.”
“We have had a tremendous last six weeks of performance, especially to start SEC play. We have been on the road for many weekends in a row against top caliber teams but we are excited to return home to correct what’s needed and to keep progressing. There’s a lot of desire and hunger in this team, and I’m excited for who this team is and can become.”
Doubles Results
The Gamecocks grabbed the first doubles win of the afternoon at the No. 1 doubles, where the No. 77 duo of Megan Davies and Mia Horvit downed No. 26-ranked team of junior Eden Richardson and freshman Nina Geissler, 6-2.
The Tigers struck back when the freshman duo of Safiya Carrington and Maggie Cubitt earned their fourth win of the season as a team at the No. 3, where they defeated Kennedy Wicker and Elise Mills 6-4.
South Carolina clinched the doubles point when the No. 24-ranked duo of Silvia Chinellato and Emma Shelton defeated senior Paris Corley and sophomore Anna Loughlan by a score of 6-4 at the No. 2.
Singles Results
Cubitt earned LSU’s lone point of the afternoon at the No. 6, where she defeated Elise Mills in dominant fashion, 6-0, 6-2. The Spartanburg, South Carolina native earned her sixth win of the dual season, bringing her record to 6-0 on the season.
South Carolina grabbed its first singles point of the afternoon after No. 25 Davies defeated No. 71 in straight sets, 6-3, 6-1.
The Gamecocks extended their lead to 3-1 at the No. 1, where No. 39 Horvit downed No. 36-ranked junior Taylor Bridges, 6-4, 6-1.
The final point of the afternoon was earned at the No. 4, where Chinellato defeated Geissler 6-4, 6-3 to clinch the match for South Carolina.
Up Next
No. 25 LSU will return to the LSU Tennis Complex to host two SEC matches this upcoming weekend. First, the Tigers host Ole Miss at 5 p.m. CT on Friday, March 13 before finishing the weekend with a match against Mississippi State at noon CT on Sunday, March 15.
Social Center
For more information on the LSU women’s tennis program follow the Tigers on Twitter @lsuwten and @LSUJuliaSell, on Instagram @LSUWTen and on www.Facebook.com/lsuwten.
LSU vs South Carolina
3/8/2020 at Columbia, S.C.
(Carolina Tennis Center)
#22 South Carolina 4, #25 LSU 1
Singles competition
1. #39 Mia Horvit (SC) def. #36 Taylor Bridges (LSU) 6-4, 6-1
2. #25 Megan Davies (SC) def. #71 Safiya Carrington (LSU) 6-3, 6-1
3. Emma Shelton (SC) vs. Eden Richardson (LSU) 6-3, 4-6, 1-0, unfinished
4. Silvia Chinellato (SC) def. Nina Geissler (LSU) 6-4, 6-3
5. Gabriela Martinez (SC) vs. Paris Corley (LSU) 2-6, 5-6, unfinished
6. Maggie Cubitt (LSU) def. Elise Mills (SC) 6-0, 6-2
Doubles competition
1. #77 Megan Davies/Mia Horvit (SC) def. #26 Nina Geissler/Eden Richardson (LSU) 6-2
2. #24 Silvia Chinellato/Emma Shelton (SC) def. Paris Corley/Anna Loughlan (LSU) 6-4
3. Safiya Carrington/Maggie Cubitt (LSU) def. Kennedy Wicker/Elise Mills (SC) 6-4
Match Notes:
LSU 10-3, 3-1 SEC; National ranking #25
South Carolina 8-4, 4-0 SEC; National ranking #22
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (6,2,1,4)