The LSU women’s tennis team became the first to conquer in-state rival Tulane this season with an 6-1 victory Tuesday over the undefeated Green Wave.
“Tulane is a real solid team, and we came out with great intensity,” said LSU coach Tony Minnis.
The No. 65-ranked Lady Tigers (3-2) evened their home record at 2-2 heading into a road trip to take on San Diego and San Diego State.
The doubles point again proved vital to the Lady Tigers’ success.
Sophomore Yvette Vlaar and senior Olivia Howlett started strong with an 8-6 victory against Tulane’s Caroline Thornton and Caroline Magnusson.
Senior Whitney Wolf and junior Keri Frankenberger built a 6-2 lead against Tulane’s Mariam Kurdadze and Emma Levy, but Kurdadze and Levy would rally to eventually tie the set at 8-8.
Ultimately, Wolf and Frankenberger proved too much for the Green Wave duo, locking up the doubles point for the Lady Tigers with a 9-8 (7-1) tie-break victory.
Before Tuesday, Kurdadze and Levy had previously won nine straight doubles matches.
“They stepped up and played at a high level in the tiebreaker,” Minnis said. “It really carried the momentum into singles.”
LSU would turn the early 1-0 lead into a comfortable defeat of the Green Wave, who struggled to keep up with the Lady Tigers in singles play.
Vlaar rolled to a 6-4, 6-2 straight-set win, giving the Lady Tigers a 2-0 lead.
Kurdadze then gave Tulane its only point with a 7-6, 7-5 defeat of Wolf to make it 2-1, but it wasn’t enough.
Frankenberger quickly finished off Tulane’s Jenny Hois 6-4, 6-3, and Howlett raced through a 6-0, 4-6, 6-4 three-set win over Levy to clinch the victory for the Lady Tigers.
“We did a great job today, but it’s only one match,” Minnis said. “We better wake our butts up and do the same thing we did today. We just have to keep improving and come out with the same fire and energy.”
The LSU men’s tennis team will be next to take on Tulane as it squares off today at 5 p.m. in W.T. “Dub” Robinson Stadium.
The No. 28 Tigers (3-2) will be looking to stay perfect at home this season.
 
 
 
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Contact Spencer Hutchinson at [email protected]