RUSTON – Louisiana Tech grabbed the doubles point and got key points from the bottom of the singles lineup to pick up its fifth straight win, defeating Sam Houston by a final score of 4-3 on Friday afternoon at the LA Tech Tennis Complex.
 
LA Tech (7-2) remained undefeated this season when winning the doubles point.  And it was the continued dominance of the top duo Leonie Schuknecht and Ana Rodrigues that got the ball rolling with a 6-2 win, their seventh straight.
 
After Sam Houston (3-4) won on court three, it came down to court two where Najah Dawson and Ilana Tetruashvili battled back from down 1-3 to take it 6-4.
 
The Bearkats tied things up with a straight-sets win on court two, but Dawson was part of giving the Lady Techsters their second point of the match, cruising to a 6-0, 6-2 victory over Isidora Zivkovic at the No. 3 position. 
 
Rodrigues got back into the win column in singles in a big way, overpowering Lusine Chobanyan by a score of 6-1, 6-3 at the No. 5 spot.  After SHSU claimed another point on court one, Alexia Romero served out the last game at love, including a beautiful lob on match point, to clinch the match with a 6-1, 7-5 win at No. 6.
 
QUOTABLES
Head coach Amanda Stone
 
"Doubles was huge today.  I continue to be happy with our doubles play, which is giving us that edge going into singles.  This was another match for us to see how our program has improved.  Sam Houston is a really solid team.  It was good to see different lines take care of business to give us the necessary points to win."
 
NOTABLES

• With the 4-3 win, LA Tech now trails 11-12 in the all-time series with Sam Houston.The Lady Techsters snapped their three-game losing skid to the Bearkats, winning for the first time since 2017.
• LA Tech kept its unbeaten streak at home alive, improving to 5-0 at the LA Tech Tennis Complex.
• LA Tech is a perfect 7-0 this season when winning the doubles point.
• LA Tech's 7-2 start, marking the seventh time in program history they have won at least seven of their first nine matches.
• LA Tech's five-match winning streak is the longest since 2019.
• Ana Rodrigues and Leonie Schuknecht improved to 8-1 in doubles.Their seven-match winning streak is tied for the third longest since 2010.
• Najah Dawson and Alexia Romero each won their third straight singles match.Dawson improved to 6-2 (3-0 at the No. 3 position).

UP NEXT
LA Tech is back at the LA Tech Tennis Complex on Sunday, Feb. 20 to take on Murray State.  First serve is set for 10 a.m.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
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