Bouncing back from a loss isn’t always easy — It’s even more difficult when it’s your first and second losses of the year.
After a tough loss to No. 1 Stanford and a heartbreaking near victory to No. 12 Northwestern at the National Indoor Team Championship, No. 16 LSU (7-2) battled back and defeated the University of Houston (5-3) 7-0 in Baton Rouge on Sunday.
The Lady Tigers had already visited Florida twice for their matches against the University of South Florida and the ITA Kick-Off Weekend. Last week they took their trip to the National Indoor Championship in Seattle, Wash.
“You can see that the whole team is very fatigued,” co-head coach Julia Sell said. “We have already had a lot of travel this season.”
The road trips to Florida and Washington didn’t stop LSU from coming out early and gaining the early doubles advantage.
Sophomore Taylor Bridges and junior Paris Corley secured the first victory 6-2. It didn’t take long for senior Kennan Johnson and freshman Anna Loughlan to win their match 6-2 as well. The Tigers entered singles play with a 1-0 lead.
The duos of Bridges-Corley and Johnson-Loughlan bounced back after losing their matches in heartbreakers against No. 12 Northwestern. The team put that weekend behind them and continued to roll through Houston.
“I really liked what we did in doubles, it was something we talked about before the match about things that we trying strategically,” Julia Sell said.
Bridges brought over the doubles success into singles, winning in straight sets, 6-4 and 6-2. No. 18-ranked sophomore Eden Richardson proved her ranking by winning 6-4 and 6-2 as well. It wasn’t long before the freshman, Loughlan, joined the action, edging out a victory 6-4 and 7-5. The Tigers had a 4-0 lead at this point with only three matches to go.
LSU finished the sweep with Corley, Johnson and sophomore Luba Vasilyuk winning their matches in three sets. Despite the early numerous trips out of state early in the season the Lady Tigers found a way to win with energy and confidence.
“They gave 100 percent effort of what they had in them today,” Sell said. “Overall, I thought they did a good job. They dug dip into the well for energy.”
This win puts LSU undefeated, 3-0, at home this season where the Tigers will stay for their next five matches. The next step for LSU is Old Dominion Friday, Feb. 22 and two matches against South Alabama and Jackson State just two days later, Sunday, Feb. 24 Sunday, in Baton Rouge. These will be the last matches before SEC play begins in March.
