University of Tennessee Athletics
University of Tennessee
LSU
Lady Vols Lose to LSU on Indoor Courts
March 01, 2015 | Women's Tennis
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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- The Tennessee Lady Volunteers produced chances to close the match late but lost 5-2 to LSU on Sunday afternoon at Goodfriend Tennis Center.
The Lady Vols (8-6, 0-2 SEC) won the doubles point but then lost four of the first six sets in singles as LSU (9-4, 1-1) gained momentum. The match was tied 2-2 before LSU won three close matches on the odd-numbered courts, two against Tennessee players Caitlyn Williams and Laurence Guevremont, who have seen limited match time this spring.
"We were competitive," Tennessee co-head coach Mike Patrick said. "We played as full as our lineup can be right now. Even though those girls haven't practiced, they competed really well. We did everything we could."
Tennessee's points came from doubles and sophomore Eve Repic, who defeated Noel Scott in a high-level match 6-2, 6-2 on court 2.
In the start of singles, LSU pulled ahead in the match with solid play across the courts. The Tigers took a 2-1 lead when Abigail Owens defeated Victoria Olivarez 6-1, 6-1 on court 4 and Skylar Holloway had a 6-4, 6-0 victory against Tiffany Tavares on court 6.
"Part of it is, we're not used to being competitive at every spot," Patrick said. "We didn't handle it that well. The last three weeks or so, you're kind of going out there with your arms tied behind your back. We played tight at the beginning."
Repic tied up the match 2-2, meaning the Lady Vols needed to win two of the three remaining matches on courts 1, 3 and 5.
The Tigers pulled within one match of the team victory when Caitlyn Williams broke Skylar Kuykendall's serve to force a tiebreaker but lost 6-3, 7-6 (4) on court 3.
Senior Joanna Henderson and Guevremont were the last two Lady Vols on court, both locked in long three-set matches. LSU clinched the team victory at 4-2 when 38th-ranked Joana Vale Costa broke Henderson and served out a 6-7 (4), 6-1, 6-4 win on court 1. Guevremont rallied from 5-2 down in the third set but lost 6-2, 4-6, 7-5 to Ella Taylor on court 5 to end the day.
Tennessee hits the road next weekend with matches at Auburn and Alabama.
LSU 5, TENNESSEE 2
Singles
1. #38 Joana Vale Costa, LSU def. Joanna Henderson, UT, 6-7 (4), 6-1, 6-4
2. Eve Repic, UT, def. Noel Scott, LSU, 6-2, 6-2
3. #112 Skylar Kuykendall, LSU, def. Caitlyn Williams, UT, 6-3, 7-6 (4)
4. Abigail Owens, LSU, def. Victoria Olivarez, UT, 6-1, 6-1
5. Ella Taylor, LSU def. Laurence Guevremont, UT, 6-2, 4-6, 7-5
6. Skylar Holloway, LSU, def. Tiffany Tavares, UT, 6-4, 6-0
Doubles
1. #34 Henderson/Williams, UT, def. Vale Costa/Scott, LSU, 8-4
2. Owens/Kuykendall, LSU, def. Repic/Guevremont, UT, 8-2
3. Tavares/Olivares, UT, def. Holloway/Taylor, LSU, 8-3
Order of Finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (4,5,2,3,1,5)
