The LSU women’s tennis team dropped a heart breaker 3-4 in an eight hour match against Mississippi State this weekend in Starkville, Miss.

The match was played at a two-court indoor facility due to inclement weather. The lack of space made for a bizarre match that included singles starting first and multiple hour breaks between matches for many of the players.

Senior Kaitlin Burns and sophomore Mary Jeremiah got play started for the Lady Tigers. Burns found herself in trouble early and was unable to get back into the match falling in straight sets, 6-2, 6-0. Jeremiah won a tough tiebreak to take the first set, but could not finish off the win as Alexandra Perper came back to win the match 6-7, 6-1, 6-2 and give the Lady Bulldogs (7-9, 1-7 Southeastern Conference) an early 2-0 lead.

LSU (8-10, 1-7 SEC) responded with strong performances from freshman Ella Taylor and junior Ariel Morton, who both won their matches in straight sets to even the score at 2-2.

Senior Keri Frankenberger took to the court following Taylor’s victory. She dropped the first set of her match right as Morton tied the score, making it appear the momentum was already sliding back to Mississippi State. She was beat 6-3, 6-3, making the score 3-2 for the Lady Bulldogs and leaving LSU senior Ebie Wilson with the responsibility of keeping the Lady Tigers in the match.

Wilson fought through a tightly contested first set and came away with a 7-6 victory after a tiebreaker. She would go on to win the match 7-6, 7-5 and force the match to be decided by the doubles point.

While Wilson wrapped up her match, Jeremiah and Morton began doubles play. Jeremiah finished her singles match almost three hours prior, and Morton waited an hour following her win to get on the court. The match did not go well for LSU’s top duo as they got behind 0-4 and later dropped the match 2-8. The Lady Tigers needed to win the remaining two doubles matches to clinch the match.

The duos of Taylor and Burns and Frankenberger and Wilson competed in two equally tense matches before Taylor and Burns were defeated by Roseline Dion and Georgiana Patrasc 9-8, clinching the match for the Mississippi State.

LSU will next be in action Friday March 29 at 3 p.m. at W.T. “Dub” Robinson Stadium when it hosts No. 2 Florida.