Led by seniors Jessica Ferguson and Rocio Fantilli, the LSU women’s tennis team upset No. 16 Texas A&M on Thursday, 4-3.
LSU (8-5) earned its first win since its 4-3 victory at Florida State on Feb. 22.
The win also avenged LSU’s NCAA Tournament loss last year to Texas A&M in the first round.
LSU began the match losing 2-of-3 double matches, giving the Lady Aggies an early 1-0 lead.
LSU coach Tony Minnis said he wanted the team to look back on yesterday’s men’s match against Texas A&M for motivation.
“I just told [the girls] to look at the guys yesterday,” Minnis said. “It was somewhat similar, but I just told them to look at the guys. That happens.”
The LSU men’s team fell behind 1-0 yesterday prior to its 5-2 win.
On the No. 1 court, Texas A&M’s Roberta Spencer and Lauren Walker defeated LSU’s Rocio Fantilli and Lauren Seaman, 8-4.
Texas A&M’s duo of Nicki Mechem and Roland defeated Ferguson and Marina Chiarelli on the No. 2 court, 9-7.
LSU’s only doubles victory came when Daysi Espinal and Camila Caliari got past Texas A&M’s Danielle Lee and Anna Lubinsky on the No. 3 court, 8-4.
Ferguson began LSU’s comeback, defeating Texas A&M’s Jessica Roland, 6-3, 6-2. Roland is currently the No. 21 ranked singles player in the nation.
Ferguson said that while she was pleased with her win, she was more excited with the play of the team.
“I’m so excited,” Ferguson. “It’s not even about my win much. It’s just [that] the team played incredible.”
On the No. 2 court, Fantilli knocked off Texas A&M’s Helga Vieira, 6-4, 7-5. The match ended on a controversial call, giving LSU the 4-2 advantage.
Chiarelli got a big win on the No. 3 court, geting past Spencer 6-4, 6-4.
LSU’s only losses came on the No. 5 and No. 6 courts, with Mechem defeating Seaman on the No. 5 court, 6-4, 6-0 and Lubinsky defeating Espinal, 6-4, 6-4 on the No. 6 court.
Minnis said that he knew how difficult this part of the season would be.
“The whole time when I set the schedule, I knew the road strectch would be really, really tough,” Minnis said. “I can’t be any more proud of this team. They’re extremely battered up with a lot of injuries.”
LSU began Southeastern Conference play with four straight road games, going 0-4 on the trip. The Lady Tigers had to face off with the No. 2 ranked Florida Gators, as well as with top-ranked Georgia.
Minnis added he wanted to keep encouraging the team to help them get back on track.
“I’ve just been telling them that if they keep a good attitude and give a good effort, you know something good is going to happen,” Minnis said. “They just went after A&M and played one heckuva match.”