University of Tennessee Athletics
Sunday, March 14
Baton Rouge, La.
1 p.m. ET
University of Tennessee
2
at
4
LSU
Photo by: Andrew Ferguson/Tennessee Athletics
No. 23 Tennessee falls to No. 19 LSU, 4-2
March 14, 2021 | Women's Tennis
BATON ROUGE, La. – The No. 23-ranked Tennessee women's tennis team fell to No. 19-ranked LSU, 4-2, on Sunday at the LSU Tennis Complex.
The Lady Vols (9-5, 3-3 SEC) surrendered the doubles point to open the match against the Tigers (10-3, 5-3 SEC).
"I can sum up today's match in two words; growing pains," head coach Alison Ojeda said. "We are playing some good tennis and fighting hard, but we battled ourselves mentally today in the form of doubt and lost because of it. Every successful person, regardless of the sport or profession, understands that there are growing pains en route to excellence. And that's where we are, growing."
Junior Daria Kuczer opened singles scoring with a straight-set (6-3, 6-3) triumph over Eden Richardson on court five to tie the dual at 1-1. The win gives the junior an 11-1 dual-match record this season and is her fourth-straight solo win in SEC play.
The Tigers responded immediately, picking up a win on court one to regain the lead at 2-1.
Junior Rebeka Mertena tied the match at 2-2 with a 7-5, 6-4 dismantling of Paris Corley on court three. The Liepaja, Latvia product moves to 8-4 in dual match play this season.
LSU won back-to-back matches on courts four and two to close the match at 4-2.
Up next, the Lady Vols travel to Nashville, Tennessee to take on Vanderbilt on Friday and head to Lexington, Kentucky to face Kentucky on Sunday.
#19 LSU 4, #23 Tennessee 2
Singles competition
1. #41 Taylor Bridges (LSU) def. Eleonora Molinaro (UT) 6-4, 6-3
2. #83 Safiya Carrington (LSU) def. #118 Carly Briggs (UT) 7-5, 6-7 (2-7), 6-3
3. #52 Rebeka Mertena (UT) def. Paris Corley (LSU) 7-5, 6-4
4. Maggie Cubitt (LSU) def. Tenika McGiffin (UT) 7-6 (7-5), 6-1
5. Daria Kuczer (UT) def. Eden Richardson (LSU) 6-3, 6-3
6. Nina Geissler (LSU) vs. #85 Johanna Silva (UT) 4-6, 7-5, 2-1, unfinished
Doubles competition
1. #14 Nina Geissler/Eden Richardson (LSU) def. Esther Adeshina/Daria Kuczer (UT) 6-3
2. Safiya Carrington/Maggie Cubitt (LSU) vs. Carly Briggs/Tenika McGiffin (UT) 6-6, unfinished
3. Taylor Bridges/Paris Corley (LSU) def. Rebeka Mertena/Eleonora Molinaro (UT) 6-4
Match Notes:
Tennessee 9-5 (3-3 SEC); National ranking #23
LSU 10-3 (5-3 SEC); National ranking #19
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3); Singles (5,1,3,4,2)
FOLLOW THE LADY VOLS!
Fans can keep up with the latest Tennessee women's tennis news by following the program on its Facebook (Facebook.com/TennesseeWomensTennis), Twitter (@Vol_WTennis) and Instagram (Vol_WTennis) accounts.
The Lady Vols (9-5, 3-3 SEC) surrendered the doubles point to open the match against the Tigers (10-3, 5-3 SEC).
"I can sum up today's match in two words; growing pains," head coach Alison Ojeda said. "We are playing some good tennis and fighting hard, but we battled ourselves mentally today in the form of doubt and lost because of it. Every successful person, regardless of the sport or profession, understands that there are growing pains en route to excellence. And that's where we are, growing."
Junior Daria Kuczer opened singles scoring with a straight-set (6-3, 6-3) triumph over Eden Richardson on court five to tie the dual at 1-1. The win gives the junior an 11-1 dual-match record this season and is her fourth-straight solo win in SEC play.
The Tigers responded immediately, picking up a win on court one to regain the lead at 2-1.
Junior Rebeka Mertena tied the match at 2-2 with a 7-5, 6-4 dismantling of Paris Corley on court three. The Liepaja, Latvia product moves to 8-4 in dual match play this season.
LSU won back-to-back matches on courts four and two to close the match at 4-2.
Up next, the Lady Vols travel to Nashville, Tennessee to take on Vanderbilt on Friday and head to Lexington, Kentucky to face Kentucky on Sunday.
#19 LSU 4, #23 Tennessee 2
Singles competition
1. #41 Taylor Bridges (LSU) def. Eleonora Molinaro (UT) 6-4, 6-3
2. #83 Safiya Carrington (LSU) def. #118 Carly Briggs (UT) 7-5, 6-7 (2-7), 6-3
3. #52 Rebeka Mertena (UT) def. Paris Corley (LSU) 7-5, 6-4
4. Maggie Cubitt (LSU) def. Tenika McGiffin (UT) 7-6 (7-5), 6-1
5. Daria Kuczer (UT) def. Eden Richardson (LSU) 6-3, 6-3
6. Nina Geissler (LSU) vs. #85 Johanna Silva (UT) 4-6, 7-5, 2-1, unfinished
Doubles competition
1. #14 Nina Geissler/Eden Richardson (LSU) def. Esther Adeshina/Daria Kuczer (UT) 6-3
2. Safiya Carrington/Maggie Cubitt (LSU) vs. Carly Briggs/Tenika McGiffin (UT) 6-6, unfinished
3. Taylor Bridges/Paris Corley (LSU) def. Rebeka Mertena/Eleonora Molinaro (UT) 6-4
Match Notes:
Tennessee 9-5 (3-3 SEC); National ranking #23
LSU 10-3 (5-3 SEC); National ranking #19
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3); Singles (5,1,3,4,2)
FOLLOW THE LADY VOLS!
Fans can keep up with the latest Tennessee women's tennis news by following the program on its Facebook (Facebook.com/TennesseeWomensTennis), Twitter (@Vol_WTennis) and Instagram (Vol_WTennis) accounts.
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
1,3
#1 Singles Match
12
43
Taylor Bridges / 0 (41/-) [LSU]
66
#2 Singles Match
123
573
Safiya Carrington / 0 (83/-) [LSU]
766
#3 Singles Match
12
76
Paris Corley / 0 [LSU]
54
#4 Singles Match
12
61
Maggie Cubitt / 0 [LSU]
76
#5 Singles Match
12
66
Eden Richardson / 0 [LSU]
33
#6 Singles Match
1234
6510
Nina Geissler / 0 [LSU]
472UF
Order of Finish:
5,1,3,4,2
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
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