BEAUMONT, Texas – Five Bulldogs collected 16 total victories, including three flight titles, as Louisiana Tech wrapped up play Sunday at the three-day Joe Pyburn Memorial Tournament hosted by Lamar University.
 
LA Tech went a combined 11-4 in singles with Mio Kozaki and Isabella Walker each going undefeated to win Flight D and Flight E, respectively.  The Bulldogs were just as dominant in doubles as the two pairings were 5-1 in Flight B with the duo of Diana Starodubtseva and Maria Tsironi taking home the championship.
 
Kozaki did not drop a single set in route to a 3-0 mark.  The senior opened with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Esthella Valentina Gonzalez Saiza of LSU-Alexandria, followed by a 7-5, 6-3 victory against Martina Alcaino Vergara of Lamar.  She capped off the weekend with a convincing 6-3, 6-2 win versus Naomi Hagi of McNeese. 
 
Walker, playing in her first tournament since the fall opener back in mid-September, impressed in Flight E.  The freshman opened the event with a 6-3, 6-0 win against Joline Roesch (LSUA) and then followed that up with a 6-7, 6-0, 10-5 comeback victory over Taisia Bolsova of Southeastern.  She made quick work of her final opponent – Kate Labenski (Lamar) – with a 6-0, 6-0 domination.
 
Skoric and Starodubtseva both competed in Flight A singles.  Starodubtseva cruised to a 6-1, 6-1 win against Arina Gudovskaya (Lamar) before falling in a third set superbreaker in her other two matches. 
 
Meanwhile, Skoric advanced to the finals after picking up a 6-3, 6-1 victory against Isabella Stuurman (LSUA) and a 5-7, 6-4, 10-6 marathon match versus Ana Hollweg (McNeese).  The junior ended up claiming runner-up in the flight after falling in straight sets in the championship match.
 
Tsironi took part in Flight C where she claimed third.  The sophomore advanced to the semifinals following the retirement of her opponent Bente Bierma (SLU) when the Bulldog was up 6-3, 1-0.  After suffering a loss in a third set superbreaker, she finished things off Sunday with a 6-3, 6-1 win against Paige Duncan (SLU).
 
Both LA Tech doubles pairings competed in Flight B.  The all-conference duo of Skoric and Kozaki rebounded from a first-round loss to claim wins of 6-1 and 6-2 in the back draw.  Meanwhile, Starodubtseva and Tsironi, playing together for the first time this fall, ran through the flight with victories of 6-2 and 7-5 before outlasting a Northwestern State tandem 6-3 in the finals.
 
SINGLES RESULTS
Flight A
Nina Skoric (TECH) def. Isabella Stuurman (LSUA) 6-3, 6-1
Nina Skoric (TECH) def. Ana Hollweg (MCN) 5-7, 6-4, 10-6
Nina Skoric (TECH) lost to Zoi Spyrou (NSU) 6-1, 6-4
Diana Starodubtseva (TECH) def. Arina Gudovskaya (LAMAR) 6-1, 6-1
Diana Starodubtseva (TECH) lost to Zoi Spyrou (NSU) 4-6, 7-5, 10-4
Diana Starodubtseva (TECH) lost to Ana Hollweg (MCN) 6-1, 4-6, 10-7
Flight C
Maria Tsironi (TECH) def. Bente Bierma (SLU) 6-3, 1-0, retired
Maria Tsironi (TECH) lost to Elena Morales Dorantes (MCN) 2-6, 6-1, 10-7
Maria Tsironi (TECH) def. Paige Duncan (SLU) 6-3, 6-1
Flight D
Mio Kozaki (TECH) def. Esthella Valentina Gonzalez Saiza (LSUA) 6-2, 6-2
Mio Kozaki (TECH) def. Martina Alcaino Vergara (LAMAR) 7-5, 6-3
Mio Kozaki (TECH) def. Naomi Hagi (MCN) 6-3, 6-2
Flight E
Isabella Walker (TECH) def. Joline Roesch (LSUA) 6-3, 6-0
Isabella Walker (TECH) def. Taisia Bolsova (SLU) 6-7, 6-0, 10-5
Isabella Walker (TECH) def. Kate Labenski (LAMAR) 6-0, 6-0
 
DOUBLES RESULTS
Flight B
Diana Starodubtseva/Maria Tsironi (TECH) def. Maria Farina/Lolita Hukasian (NSU) 6-2
Diana Starodubtseva/Maria Tsironi (TECH) def. Elena Morales Dorantes/Naomi Hagi (MCN) 7-5
Diana Starodubtseva/Maria Tsironi (TECH) def. Zoi Spyrou/Martina Acebedo Bonocore (NSU) 6-3
Nina Skoric/Mio Kozaki (TECH) lost to Zoi Spyrou/Martina Acebedo Bonocore (NSU) 6-2
Nina Skoric/Mio Kozaki (TECH) def. Joline Roesch/ Esthella Valentina Gonzalez Saiza (LSUA) 6-1
Nina Skoric/Mio Kozaki (TECH) def. Maria Farina/Lolita Hukasian (NSU) 6-2
 
UP NEXT
Zoie Epps will represent Conference USA in singles at the 2025 ITA Conference Masters Championship in the final fall event of the season for LA Tech.  The event starts on Thursday, Nov. 6 in San Diego, Calif. at the Barnes Tennis Center.
 
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