The LSU women’s tennis team earned its first Southeastern Conference win of the season Sunday after defeating Mississippi State University, 5-2.
The five points the Lady Tigers (9-9, 1-7) won against MSU (3-12, 1-7) matched the combined point total the team had earned in its first eight SEC matches of the season.
“We need a win here,” said LSU coach Tony Minnis before the match. “This is tough and it’s frustrating, but times like this are what define character. Are we going to pack it in or fight through it? We need to fight through this.”
The Lady Tigers began the match in a 1-0 hole after they dropped the doubles point of the day.
LSU freshman Mykala Hedberg and sophomore Tiffany Tucker began play by losing the first doubles match, 6-8, to freshmen Martina Banikova and Elna de Villiers.
Although senior Marina Chiarelli and sophomore Anastasiya Dubova won their match, 8-6, it was not enough. LSU lost the point when seniors Daysi Espinal and Lauren Seaman fell, 8-5, to freshman Daniela Juskova and senior Anastasisa Kugakolova.
The Lady Tigers quickly tied the score at one a piece after Dubova defeated Banikova in straight sets, 6-2, 6-4.
The Lady Bulldogs jumped back on top after Kugakolova defeated Hedberg in two sets, 6-2, 6-3.
LSU answered with another two-set victory as Tucker defeated sophomore Polina Kokoulina, 6-4, 7-5.
The Lady Tigers took their first lead of the day after Espinal defeated freshman Tatiana Feit, 7-5, 6-4.
After dropping her first set, LSU senior Camila Caliari clinched the match for the Lady Tigers after defeating Villiers, 5-7, 6-3, 6-3. This was just the second three-set singles match LSU has won during SEC play this season.
Chiarelli earned the final point for the Lady Tigers after defeating sophomore Renee Joseph in three sets, 7-6 (2), 6-7 (4), 6-3.
The Lady Tigers return home for the weekend when they take on the University of Alabama on Friday.
 
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