#30 Lady Bulldogs Knock Off #42 LSU 4-3, Advance To Quarterfinals
The Lady Bulldogs took the early edge in doubles as State's 21st-rankedtandem of Zsuzsanna Fodor and Anastasia Kugakolova downed LSU's LaurenSeaman and Tiffany Tucker 8-2 at the first position. It was the ninth winfor the two Lady Bulldogs in SEC play this season. At No. 2, LSU's AmandaMang and Staten Spencer defeated Lady Bulldogs Magdi Rekasi and Haley Rudman8-2, leaving the doubles point to be decided at No. 3. At that thirdposition, MSU's Polina Kokoulina and Tarryn Rudman led the match 6-3, butLady Tigers Marina Chiarelli and Camila Caliari stormed back to even thematch at six games apiece. From that point, LSU's combo would go on to winthree of the next four games, winning the match 9-7 and giving LSU the early1-0 advantage.
As singles got underway, the 113th-ranked Kugakolova evened the match at onepoint apiece as she knocked off LSU's Seaman 6-4, 6-1 at No. 2. It wasKugakolova's first win in her last four singles matches. The Lady Bulldogstook a brief 2-1 lead when State's Tarryn Rudman ousted LSU's Spencer 6-1,6-0 at the third position. Rudman improved to 8-4 in the SEC in singlesmatches and has now won eight of her last nine matches.
LSU tied the match at two points when Tucker upended Rekasi 6-2, 6-4 at thefifth position. State's 15th-ranked Fodor quickly gave the Lady Bulldogs a3-2 lead, winning her match over Mang 6-3, 6-3. The SEC Freshman of theYear owns a team-best 9-3 mark against league competition. LSU's Caliarikept the Lady Tigers alive and evened the match at three as she defeatedKokoulina 6-4, 3-6, 6-1 at the sixth position. With only one matchremaining and the Lady Bulldogs' tournament hopes on the line, freshmanRenée Joseph clinched the match for State with her 3-6, 7-6, 7-5 win overthe Lady Tigers' Chiarelli at No. 4. The former Rock Hill, S.C., nativelost the first set 3-6, but battled back to win the final two sets,ultimately sending the Lady Bulldog into the second round.
"I can't say enough about the way Renée Joseph played for us today," Lanesaid. "Without a doubt, she was the reason we won the match. She lost herfirst set 6-3, but still managed to pull out a win for us. We couldn't havedone it without her."
With the 4-3 win over western division rival LSU, the Lady Bulldogs will nowface the University of Kentucky in the second round of the SEC Tournament.The Wildcats are ranked third in the country and post a 21-4 overall recordthis season, 10-1 in the league. UK was a perfect 10-0 in leaguecompetition until it dropped a 4-3 decision to Vanderbilt last weekend inLexington. Earlier this season, the Wildcats defeated the Lady Bulldogs 7-0in a March 4 match in Lexington. UK is led by SEC Coach of the Year MarkGuilbeau and SEC Player of the Year Aibika Kalsarieva.
#30 Mississippi State 4, #42 LSU 3
Doubles
1. #21 Fodor/Kugakolova (MSU) def. Seaman/Tucker (LSU) 8-2
2. Mang/Spencer (LSU) def. Rekasi/H. Rudman (MSU) 8-2
3. Chiarelli/Caliari (LSU) def. T. Rudman/Kokoulina (MSU) 9-7
Singles
1. #15 Zsuzsanna Fodor (MSU) def. Amanda Mang (LSU) 6-3, 6-3
2. #113 Anastasia Kugakolova (MSU) def. Lauren Seaman (LSU) 6-4, 6-1
3. Tarryn Rudman (MSU) def. Staten Spencer (LSU) 6-1, 6-0
4. Renée Joseph (MSU) def. Marina Chiarelli (LSU) 3-6, 7-6, 7-5
5. Tiffany Tucker (LSU) def. Magdi Rekasi (MSU) 6-2, 6-4
6. Camila Caliari (LSU) def. Polina Kokoulina (MSU) 6-4, 3-6, 6-1