THIBODAUX, La. – Another match, another record broken.
Louisiana Tech won its record-setting 12th consecutive match on Saturday afternoon, defeating in-state foe Nicholls State by a final score of 4-3 at the Colonel Tennis Complex.
It could nearly an hour to decide who would grab the opening doubles point as all three courts were close. In the end, LA Tech (14-2) took it by picking up victories by the tandems of
Leonie Schuknecht/
Ana Rodrigues and
Najah Dawson/
Ilana Tetruashvili with scores of 7-5 and 7-6, respectively.
Nicholls State (7-5), who was undefeated on its home courts this spring, charged back in singles, claiming straight-set wins on courts two and five to capture a 2-1 advantage in the match.
However, the freshman Rodrigues knotted things up after registering a 7-6 (4), 6-4 win over Morgan Forshag at the No. 6 spot. Her doubles partner Schuknecht followed at the top spot by coming back from a set down to defeat Simona Maksimovic by a score of 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.
The Colonels evened things up with a victory in three sets at the No. 5 position, bringing the deciding point down to court three where Tetruashvili and Jessie Mount also split sets.
The senior and reigning Conference USA Women's Tennis Athlete of the Week came up clutch yet again for LA Tech, winning the duel by a score of 6-4, 5-7, 6-1 for her fifth straight singles victory.
QUOTABLES
Head coach
Amanda Stone
"I knew going in Nicholls was a team with a lot of fight. They have pushed good teams and just come up short on lines. The wind was also played a huge factor today. We had to battle the elements and at times that was frustrating, but we did a very good job of pushing through. One and two doubles were clutch and Ana and Leonie set us up in singles for Ilana to close it out. We did not play perfect tennis, but we found a way to win on the road when it counted."
NOTABLES
- LA Tech broke the program record for longest winning streak with 12.The previous record was 11 set in 2014.
- LA Tech has won three straight over Nicholls State, its longest winning streak in the series over the in-state opponent.
- LA Tech has won the doubles point in 12 of its 16 matches, improving to a perfect 12-0 when winning the doubles point.
- LA Tech has now won 10 singles matches at positions three, five and six.
- For the fourth time this season (and the third time in the last four matches), Ilana Tetruashvili has provided the clinching point.
- Ilana Tetruashvili has a team-best 12-3 singles record.The senior has won multiple matches at positions three, four and five.
- Leonie Schuknecht and Ana Rodrigues are now 11-2 in dual doubles (12-2 overall).
- Ilana Tetruashvili and Najah Dawson claimed their sixth straight doubles match, improving to 11-4 on the spring.
UP NEXT
After three straight road matches, LA Tech returns home to battle New Orleans on Wednesday, March 16. First serve is set for noon at the LA Tech Tennis Complex.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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