Tulane University
LSU
Women's Tennis Falls To LSU
Apr 2, 2003 | Women's Tennis
April 2, 2003
NEW ORLEANS, La. - - LSU won three singles matches after claiming the doubles point to claim a 4-3 win over the Tulane women's tennis team at the Goldring Tennis Center on Wednesday.
With the win, LSU improves to 9-10, while Tulane drops to 13-4 with the loss. The Tigers are currently ranked 53rd by the ITA, while Tulane is listed 26th.
LSU took an early 1-0 lead after winning the opening doubles point. Amanda Mang and Jessica Ferguson gave the Tigers a win on court two with their 8-6 victory over Nancy Kockott and Maria Ivanov, only to see Ana Saaibi and Erika Valdes knot things up for Tulane with an 8-4 win over Camila Caliari and Daisy Espinal on court three. However, LSU took the doubles point when Rocio Fantilli and Lauren Seaman claimed a 9-7 win over Tulane's Jenny Kuhn and Julie Smekodub on court one.
However, Tulane fought back in singles play to claim a 3-1 advantage. Freshman Jenny Kuhn, ranked 44th by the ITA, was first off the court with her convincing 6-0, 6-4 win over LSU's Jessica Ferguson at No. 2 singles. Classmate Julie Smekodub, ranked 27th, gave Tulane a 2-1 lead with her 6-1, 6-2 victory over Rocio Fantilli on court one. Sophomore Ana Saaibi gave the Green Wave a two-point cushion when she turned in a 6-2, 6-2 win over Camila Caliari on court five.
LSU pulled to within 3-2 with Daisy Espinal's 6-4, 6-2 win over Tulane's Maria Ivanov at the No. 4 spot and even the team score at 3-3 when Lauren Seaman recorded a 6-3, 6-4 win over Nancy Kockott at No. 6 singles. The Tigers clinched the match on court three, where Marina Chiarelli won a hard-fought 7-6, 6-3 decision over Tulane's Erika Valdes.
"It was a tough match," Tulane head coach David Schumacher said. "We got down after the doubles, but I thought we did a good job of coming back strong in the first three singles matches. Unfortunately, we weren't able to pull out the win. We had an absolutely amazing crowd tonight and I want to personally thank everyone for coming out. Hopefully we will see them again when we host the Conference USA Tournament beginning April 12."
Next up, Tulane will travel to face Baylor on Saturday, April 5.
No. 53 LSU 4, No. 26 Tulane 3
April 2, 2003 - New Orleans, La.
1) Fantilli/Seaman (LSU) def. #9 Kuhn/Smekodub (Tulane), 9-7
2) Mang/Ferguson (LSU) def. Kockott/Ivanov (Tulane), 8-6
3) Saaibi/Valdes (Tulane) def. Caliari/Espinal (LSU), 8-4
1) #27 Julie Smekodub (Tulane) def. Rocio Fantilli (LSU), 6-1, 6-2
2) #44 Jenny Kuhn (Tulane) def. Jessica Ferguson (LSU), 6-0, 6-4
3) Marina Chiarelli (LSU) def. #71 Erika Valdes (Tulane), 7-6, 6-3
4) Daisy Espinal (LSU) def. Maria Ivanov (Tulane), 6-4, 6-2
5) Ana Saaibi (Tulane) def. Camila Caliari (LSU), 6-2, 6-2
6) Lauren Seaman (LSU) def. Nancy Kockott (Tulane), 6-3, 6-4
