The Lady Tigers extended their undefeated status at home as they won three matches in as many days this weekend.
In front of a crowded W.T. “Dub” Robinson Stadium on Sunday, No. 58 LSU (7-2) defeated No. 72 Northwestern State (2-3) and McNeese State (2-3) by respective scores of 5-0 and 5-2.
After dominating Northwestern State, a fatigued Lady Tigers squad fought hard against McNeese State to round out its weekend.
“I was not smart in scheduling both of these on the same day,” said LSU coach Julia Sell. “But we need those kinds of matches, our freshmen especially. They need to learn how to maintain that level and intensity for two solid matches.”
Drained from nine matches in four weeks, Sell’s team managed to sustain their momentum carried over from Friday’s hard-fought 4-3 win against USF (3-3).
LSU’s victory on Friday was clinched by freshman Skylar Holloway, who came back to beat the Bulls’ Olga Martinez 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (3). Holloway fell behind 5-2 in the third set while sophomore teammate Ella Taylor battled USF’s Olaya Garrido-Rivas on court three.
Taylor eventually lost her match, but her fight was enough to inspire Holloway to clinch a comeback.
“It surprisingly wasn’t that much pressure until maybe match point,” Holloway said. “After the match was over, the nerves really kicked in. … I guess I was on an adrenaline rush.”
Holloway wrapped up her weekend with two more singles wins on Sunday and improved her and freshman Joana Vale Costa’s doubles record to 7-1 on the season. The duos’ only loss of the season came against Miami’s No. 29-ranked team of Clementina Riobueno and Monique Albuquerque on Jan. 25 in a 7-6 (7-4) score.
Against Northwestern State, LSU won four singles points all in straight sets to clinch its victory. Otero’s 1-6, 6-1, 1-0 loss to McNeese’s Julia Kral was the Lady Tigers’ only three-set match in the doubleheader on Sunday.
LSU didn’t lose a doubles match against Northwestern State or McNeese on Sunday, and though a doubles match against both opponents went unfinished because LSU already secured the doubles point, the Lady Tiger duos in each unfinished pairing were leading at the time they were stopped.
Sell said the atmosphere at the “Dub” this weekend was the best she’s ever witnessed.
“It was such high-quality tennis from both sides,” Sell said. “It’s hard not to get into it when it’s like that. I was really proud of [Holloway] and what she did. It shows the player she’s becoming and is going to be for our program.”
The Lady Tigers will take a much-needed, 10-day rest before returning to their home court Feb. 26 against Tulane.

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Lauren Duhon

LSU freshman tennis player Abigail Owens hits the ball Sunday, Feb. 16, 2014 in a doubles match against Northwestern State University at W.T. "Dub" Robinson Stadium.