The LSU women’s tennis team suffered their fourth consecutive loss on Sunday after being shut out 7-0 by Vanderbilt University at W.T. “Dub” Robinson Stadium.
The No. 41 Lady Tigers (7-5, 0-4) entered the match against No. 12 Vanderbilt (12-2, 4-0) after scoring their first match point in Southeastern Conference play Friday in a 6-1 loss to the University of Kentucky on Friday.
“It’s just been one of those years,” said LSU coach Tony Minnis. “We’re pretty banged up, and we could use some time to get healthy.”
LSU opened the match by losing the doubles point.
After freshman Mykala Hedberg and sophomore Tiffany Tucker dropped the first doubles pairing 8-0, senior Marina Chiarelli and sophomore Anastasiya Dubova battled back to win their match, 8-4.
The Lady Tigers duo of seniors Daysi Espinal and Camila Caliari could not hang on and lost the final doubles match, 8-6.
“We gave a good effort,” Minnis said. “ [Chiarelli and Dubova] played very well in doubles. ‘We fought hard, but couldn’t get the point.'”
The team entered singles play and quickly dropped another point when senior Calliari retired in her second set due to an injury.
After earning their third point of the game, Vanderbilt clinched the match when No. 23 junior Amanda Fish defeated Hedberg in two sets 6-1, 6-3.
“I didn’t show up today,” Hedberg said. “I came out and couldn’t put anything together in my first set. When I finally began to put something together in my second set, it was too late.”
Hedberg came into the game after earning the biggest win of her career on Friday. She defeated her first ranked opponent, No. 42 Kim Coventry of Kentucky 6-0, 6-2.
“I had a great opportunity to knock off another top player [on Sunday], but couldn’t capitalize,” Hedberg said.
Chiarelli battled No. 40 sophomore Taka Bertrand but lost in three sets 6-3, 3-6, 6-10.
“I played really well,” Chiarelli said. “My opponent came out with some really good shots in the third set and scored some really big points.”
 
Contact Jay St. Pierre at [email protected]