Columbia, S.C. – Freshman Samantha Buyckx completed a come from behind win at the No. 6 singles to clinch a 4-3 victory for the No. 19 LSU Women’s Tennis team over the South Carolina Gamecocks on Sunday afternoon at the Carolina Tennis Center.
With the win, LSU improves to 8-1 on the season and 3-1 in SEC play while South Carolina falls to 4-7 overall and 1-3 in conference play.
Selling Points
“All heart!” co-head coach Michael Sell said. “The belief this team has in each other continues to grow and make us tougher as the season goes on! To win three third sets on the road in a very vocal road environment shows what this team is made of. We’re thrilled for Nina (Geissler) who came through big and Taylor (Bridges) comeback at No. 1 showed her leadership to this team. All of that, and for Samantha to clutch the deciding match was great to see. This is a great way to end a month-long road schedule and we can’t wait to be back on our home courts next weekend.”
Doubles Results
The No. 20 duo of Silvia Chinellato and Emma Shelton were first off the doubles court, defeating sophomores Safiya Carrington and Maggie Cubitt by a score of 6-1 at the No. 2 doubles.
South Carolina clinched the doubles point at the No. 1, where No. 29 Megan Davies and Mia Horvit defeated the No. 14-ranked duo of senior Eden Richardson and sophomore Nina Geissler, 6-4.
Singles Results
The Gamecocks took a 2-0 lead after No. 30 Davies defeated Richardson by a score of 6-4, 6-3, at the No. 2 singles.
LSU cut the deficit in half after senior Paris Corley picked up her 14th win of the overall season over No. 93 Shelton at the No. 3. The first set was a back and forth contest that Corley was able to edge Shelton out in by a score of 7-5. The second set was another even contest, with Corley able to hold off a late charge from Shelton to win 6-4 and make the scoreline 2-1.
No. 41-ranked senior Taylor Bridges made it 2-2 after claiming her second ranked win of the season with a win over No. 34 Horvit at the No. 1. Horvit dominated the first set, blanking Bridges 6-0. Bridges turned the tide in the second set, winning in strong 6-2 fashion to force a decisive third set. The third set saw Bridges recover from a slow start to come from two games behind and go on to win 6-4 and secure the win.
At No. 4, Chinellato defeated Cubitt in three sets to give the Gamecocks a 3-2 lead. Cubitt claimed the first set in a 6-0 rout before Chinellato responded with a 6-4 win in the second. Chinellato rode momentum from the second set into the third, going on to win 6-2 and claim victory.
The match became tied at 3-3 after Geissler defeated Allie Gretkowski in three sets at the No. 5. Geissler took the narrow first set 6-4 before Gretkowski responded with an emphatic 6-2 win in the second. The decisive third set was an even contest, with Geissler able to narrowly pull ahead and go on to win 6-4 to claim her seventh win of the dual season.
The deciding point would come from the No. 6, where Buyckx faced Ana Cruz. Cruz got off to a good start, taking the first set 6-2. The second set saw the two trade games back and forth, eventually requiring a tiebreaker to decide it. In the close tiebreaker, Buyckx held Cruz off to win 7-5 and force a third set. Buyckx rode momentum from her tiebreaker win to a 6-2 victory in the third set to clinch the match for the visiting Tigers.
Up Next
No. 19 LSU returns to the LSU Tennis Complex to host Ole Miss at 5 p.m. CT on Friday, March 5.
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#19 LSU 4, South Carolina 3
Singles competition
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1. #41 Taylor Bridges (LSU) def. #34 Mia Horvit (SC) 0-6, 6-2, 6-4 |
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2. #30 Megan Davies (SC) def. Eden Richardson (LSU) 6-4, 6-3 |
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3. Paris Corley (LSU) def. #93 Emma Shelton (SC) 7-5, 6-4 |
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4. Silvia Chinellato (SC) def. Maggie Cubitt (LSU) 0-6, 6-4, 6-2 |
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5. Nina Geissler (LSU) def. Allie Gretkowski (SC) 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 |
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6. Samantha Buyckx (LSU) def. Ana Cruz (SC) 2-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-2 |
Doubles competition
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1. #29 Megan Davies/Mia Horvit (SC) def. #14 Nina Geissler/Eden Richardson (LSU) 6-4 |
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2. #20 Silvia Chinellato/Emma Shelton (SC) def. Safiya Carrington/Maggie Cubitt (LSU) 6-1 |
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3. Ana Cruz/Allie Gretkowski (SC) vs. Taylor Bridges/Paris Corley (LSU) 4-4, unfinished |
Match Notes
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LSU 8-1, 3-1 SEC; National ranking #19 |
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South Carolina 4-7, 1-3 SEC |
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Order of finish: Doubles (2,1); Singles (2,3,1,4,5,6) |