RUSTON – The Louisiana Tech tennis team closed out its road trip with a 5-2 victory over Murray State on Monday at the Bennie Purcell Tennis Courts.
 
Coming off a split in the state of Tennessee, LA Tech (6-5) traveled to Kentucky and coupled the doubles point with singles wins on courts two, four, five and six.
 
"This was a great win today and hopefully a big step forward for our team," said head coach Amanda Stone.  "Murray State is always tough and always competing for a conference championship so getting this victory today was a great accomplishment.
 
"The whole trip was really a success.  It definitely was not an easy three matches.  I loved the toughness and competitiveness we showed in all.  If we can keep this mindset going forward, we are going to grow a lot."
 
Alexia Romero and Lara Unkovich got the day started right for the Lady Techsters.  Despite moving up to the two line, the duo bested Stasya Sharapova and Gabrielle Geolier by a score of 6-2.  The tandem concluded the road swing a perfect 3-0 and has won five of their last six. 
 
The duo of Leonie Schuknecht and Ilana Tetruashvili continued their winning ways as well, defeating Anja Loncarevic and Sarah Bureau by a score of 6-3.  This tandem has won six of their last seven matches. 
 
With Murray State (2-6) defaulting at No. 6 singles, LA Tech took a 2-0 advantage into the five singles matches.  The Racers got on the scoreboard though with a straight-sets win on court three to slice the deficit in half.
 
Soon thereafter, Claudia Oravcova made it 3-1 in favor of the Lady Techsters with a 6-1, 6-4 win versus Geolier at court five.  The senior has been playing some of the best singles tennis of her career, winning five of her last six matches and going a perfect 3-0 on the road trip. 
 
Clinching the match for LA Tech was Alexia Romero who bested A. Loncarevic, 7-6, 6-2 at the No. 4 position.  The sophomore now owns a team-best 8-3 record and has played seven tiebreakers this season, winning five of them.
 
Adding another point for the Lady Techsters was Tetruashvili who outlasted Marit Kreugel, 7-6, 7-5 on court two.  It was the junior's first win this season at the No. 2 spot.  She has now won six of her last seven singles matches.
 
"We are looking better and better in doubles," said Stone.  "Claudia got us quick momentum in singles.  I'm proud of Alexia and Ilana for closing their matches when they had the chance."
 
Next on the schedule for LA Tech is a trip to Jonesboro, Arkansas for matches on March 13-14 against Missouri State and Arkansas State. 
 
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