Columbia, SC – Freshman Samantha Buyckx completed a victory from behind in No. 6 singles to secure a 4-3 victory for women’s No. 19 LSU tennis team over the South Carolina Gamecocks on Sunday afternoon at the Carolina Tennis Center.
With the victory, LSU improves to 8-1 in the season and 3-1 in the SEC game, while South Carolina drops to 4-7 overall and 1-3 in the conference.
Outlets
“Wholeheartedly!” head co-trainer Michael Sell said. “The belief that this team has in each other continues to grow and become stronger as the season progresses! Winning three third sets on the road in a very noisy road environment shows what this team is made of. We are thrilled by Nina (Geissler) who recovered in a big way and Taylor (Bridges) comeback in the first place showed his leadership for this team. All of that, and for Samantha to take the decisive match was great to see. This is a great way to end a month – a long road schedule and we can’t wait to be back at our home blocks next weekend. “
Doubles results
The 20th pair of Silvia Chinellato and Emma Shelton was the first pair outside the doubles court, defeating sophomores Safiya Carrington and Maggie Cubitt by a score of 6-1 in the No. 2 doubles.
South Carolina won double points in 1st position, where 29th Megan Davies and Mia Horvit defeated the senior duo in 14th place Eden Richardson and second year Nina Geissler, 6-4.
Results for singles
The Gamecocks took a 2-0 lead after No. 30 Davies defeated Richardson by 6-4, 6-3, in No. 2 singles.
LSU cut the deficit in half after senior Paris Corley I caught her 14º general season win over No. 93 Shelton in No. 3. The first set was a round-trip dispute in which Corley managed to defeat Shelton by a score of 7-5. The second set was another balanced match, with Corley able to handle a final load from Shelton to win 6-4 and score 2-1.
No. 41 ranked senior Taylor Bridges made it 2-2 after claiming his second win in the season ranking with a victory over No. 34 Horvit at No. 1. Horvit dominated the first set, eliminating Bridges 6-0. Bridges turned the tide in the second set, winning in style 6-2 to force a decisive third set. In the third set, Bridges recovered from a slow start, coming from two games ago and won 6-4 and secured the victory.
In fourth place, Chinellato defeated Cubitt in three sets to give Gamecocks a 3-2 lead. Cubitt won the first set in a 6-0 rout before Chinellato responded with a 6-4 victory in the second. Chinellato gained momentum from the second set to the third, winning 6-2 and winning the victory.
The match was tied at 3-3 after Geissler defeated Allie Gretkowski in three sets in No. 5. Geissler won the first narrow set 6-4 before Gretkowski responded with an emphatic 6-2 victory in the second. The third decisive set was a balanced contest, with Geissler able to barely advance and win 6-4 to claim his seventh double season win.
The decisive point would come from nº 6, where Buyckx faced Ana Cruz. Cruz started well, making the first set 6-2. The second set saw the two games swapping back and forth, eventually requiring a tiebreaker to decide it. In the tight tie, Buyckx held Cruz to a 7-5 win to force a third set. Buyckx took the moment of his victory in the tiebreaker to a 6-2 victory in the third set to close the match for Tigers visitors.
Next
No. 19 LSU returns to the LSU Tennis Complex to host Ole Miss at 5 pm CT on Friday, March 5.
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# 19 LSU 4, South Carolina 3
Singles competition
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1. # 41 Taylor Bridges (LSU) def. # 34 Mia Horvit (SC) 0-6, 6-2, 6-4 |
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2. No. 30 Megan Davies (SC) won. Eden Richardson (LSU) 6-4, 6-3 |
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3 Paris Corley (LSU) def. # 93 Emma Shelton (SC) 7-5, 6-4 |
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4. Silvia Chinellato (SC) won. Maggie Cubitt (LSU) 0-6, 6-4, 6-2 |
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5 Nina Geissler (LSU) def. Allie Gretkowski (SC) 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 |
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6 Samantha Buyckx (LSU) def. Ana Cruz (SC) 2-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-2 |
Double competition
Starting notes
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LSU 8-1, 3-1 SEC; National classification nº 19 |
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South Carolina 4-7, 1-3 SEC |
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Finishing order: Insulated (2.1); Singles (2,3,1,4,5,6) |