The LSU women’s tennis team ended its season Thursday night as it fell 0-4 to No. 18 Vanderbilt in the second round of the Southeastern Conference Championships in Starkville, Miss.
The day after their thrilling 4-2 victory over 11th seed Kentucky, the 14th seed Lady Tigers (9-16, 1-12 SEC) were looking to avenge another regular season loss against the sixth seed Commodores (15-10, 7-6 SEC), but were overmatched from the start.
Due to the length of earlier matches and the potential threat of rain, singles matches were played first, with doubles to be played after if necessary. LSU dropped the first set in all of the matches, of which only junior Ariel Morton’s was close, 5-7.
Vanderbilt got on the board first when Ashleigh Antal notched a 6-3, 6-1 victory over senior Keri Frankenberger. The Commodores quickly stretched the lead to 3-0 after senior Ebie Wilson and freshman Ella Taylor fell in straight sets, and clinched the match when Courtney Colton defeated sophomore Mary Jeremiah 6-2, 6-4.
The SEC Championships were almost certainly going to be the 2013 Lady Tigers’ swan song, with them needing to run the table in order to qualify for the NCAA Tournament. They broke a seven-match losing streak with their win over Kentucky, something that could serve as a silver lining for the three graduating seniors and a source of motivation in the offseason for the returning members.
