The LSU women’s tennis team fell 4-3 to Kentucky Sunday in a highly contested match that saw the Tigers lose in a third-set thriller.
The Tigers started out the day strongly, taking the doubles point after the combination of senior Kaitlin Burns and freshman Ella Taylor took down Kentucky’s Kristen Lewis and Jessica Stiles. The doubles point was secured when seniors Ebie Wilson and Keri Frankenberger, continuing their recent hot streak, defeated Edmee Morin-Kougouch and CeCe Witten.
“This was our best doubles performance of the year,” LSU coach Julia Sell said.
The Tigers then struggled early during singles play.
Sophomore Mary Jeremiah’s recent struggles continued as she fell to Kentucky’s Jessica Stiles, 4-6, 1-6. Disregarding wins against in-state opponents Nicolls State and Grambling last weekend, Jeremiah has not won a singles match since Jan. 26 against Southern.
Burns battled against Kentucky’s top-ranked player — Nadia Rativa — but Rativa proved to be too much for Burns, prevailing in straight sets.
After LSU picked up wins from both Taylor and junior Ariel Morton, the match was left in freshman Caroline Hudson’s hands. Hudson was reinserted into the starting lineup after getting Friday night off.
Hudson took the first set, 6-1, but despite racing out to a 5-1 lead, she ultimately let Kentucky’s Lewis force the match into a third set.
“This is the most electric atmosphere I think that we’ve had all year,” Sell said. “It was unbelievable today, this is what college tennis is all about.”
Hudson went down 2-5 in the third set, but battled all the way back to 4-5 before succumbing to a combination of bad luck and Lewis’ improved play.
While serving to bring the match to a 5-5 tie, Hudson had Lewis scrambling, but a Lewis return hit the net and snuck over to shift the momentum permanently to Kentucky’s side.
“The other girl started playing better, she made the proper adjustments, which happens in conference play, especially in this conference,” Sell said. “That last game: it was unlucky just a tip of the net. She got lucky, but that’s what happens. We dug a hole and then she gets one lucky game and the match is over.”
LSU will continue its season next weekend in Alabama when it takes on both Auburn and Alabama in SEC play.
