AUBURN, Ala. – Four Bulldogs combined for seven wins as Louisiana Tech wrapped up play at the ITA Southern Regionals, hosted by Auburn University at the Yarbrough Tennis Center.
 
Both Diana Starodubtseva and June Vigneron were able to make it out of the singles qualifying draw with a pair of victories.  Starodubtseva came back to defeat Cleanne Pickel (Alabama State) in three sets (3-6, 6-2, 6-2) and then was two games away from clinching her match versus Naomi Blanks (Alabama A&M) before she retired due to injury.
 
Meanwhile, Vigneron defeated Mariapaz Ospina of UAB 7-5, 6-1 followed by a gutsy 6-7, 6-3, 6-4 win over Veena Mariam Nazar of Troy to make it to the main draw.
 
The third Bulldog in the qualifying draw, Maria Tsironi, got past Gabrielle Henderson of Alabama A&M 7-5, 6-3 before falling in straight sets.
 
LA Tech went 0-3 in the singles main draw round of 64 with Vigneron and Zoie Epps losing in three sets.  Starodubtseva was the lone Bulldog to play a consolation match and came out on top in one of the biggest wins of her collegiate career, outlasting No. 8 seed Florentine Dekkers of LSU 6-2, 6-7, 10-2. 
 
Epps and Tsironi was the lone doubles tandem for the Bulldogs participating in the event.  The duo got past a pairing from Jacksonville State 8-6 before falling to Alabama in the round of 32.
 
RESULTS
Singles Qualifying Draw
Maria Tsironi def. Gabrielle Henderson (Alabama A&M) 7-5, 6-3
Maria Tsironi lost to Nera Tesankic (UAB) 6-2, 6-3
Diana Starodubtseva def. Cleanne Pickel (Alabama State) 3-6, 6-2, 6-2
Diana Starodubtseva def. Naomi Blanks (Alabama A&M) 6-1, 4-1, retired
June Vigneron def. Mariapaz Ospina (UAB) 7-5, 6-1
June Vigneron def. Veena Mariam Nazar (Troy) 6-7, 6-3, 6-4
 
Singles Main Draw
Diana Starodubtseva lost to Micah Pierce (Tulane) 6-2, 6-2
Zoie Epps lost to Maria Guirguis (Troy) 6-4, 2-6, 6-2
June Vigneron lost to Mathilde Delaney (North Alabama) 3-6, 6-4, 6-1
 
Singles Main Draw Consolation
Diana Starodubtseva def. Florentine Dekkers (LSU) 6-2, 6-7, 10-2
 
Doubles Main Draw
Zoie Epps/Maria Tsironi def. Angeles Rodriguez-Rizo/Irene Artigas Taberner (Jacksonville State) 8-6
Zoie Epps/Maria Tsironi lost to Amina Salibayeva/Addison Bowman (Alabama) 8-4
 
UP NEXT
LA Tech will head to Beaumont, Texas for its final fall tournament of the season.  The three-day event will take place Oct. 31 – Nov. 2.
 
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