RUSTON – Louisiana Tech gutted out a 4-2 victory over New Mexico State in what was a heated Conference USA battle on Friday at the LA Tech Tennis Complex.
 
LA Tech (11-6, 1-0 CUSA) was able to do something it had not done all spring and that was win a match after dropping the doubles point.  And that they did, coming back to win four singles lines to take the victory in their league opener.
 
NM State (11-7, 1-1 CUSA) was able to claim that opening doubles point with wins of 6-3 and 7-5 on courts one and three, respectively. 
 
The matchup was quickly tied by Alice Brook in singles as the freshman gave LA Tech its first point of the match, outdueling Dora Kurdi 6-3, 6-1 at the No. 5 position.  Minutes later, Zoie Epps made it a 2-1 advantage for the 'Dogs as the sophomore won seven straight games to close out a dominating 6-4, 6-0 win over Lisa Zhu at No. 2.
 
The remaining four courts would all go to a third set.  June Vigneron, playing just her third dual singles match of the spring, was able to split sets at No. 6 against Mo Parkinson-Lubold.  In the third set, she held serve to get it to 5-4 and then broke to win it, 6-4, giving LA Tech a 3-1 lead.
 
The Aggies would fight back though as Whitney Moon rallied from a set down to claim a win at the No. 3 position. 
 
However, the Ana Rodrigues came up big for the Bulldogs.  After grabbing the first set 6-3, she dropped the second set and then found herself down 0-3 in the third to Anna Pinaieva on court one.  The senior captain rallied, pulling in front 5-4 on serve.
 
Pinaieva was able to fight off one match point for Rodrigues on a deuce point to get it to 5-all.  Rodrigues responded by holding serve to make it 6-5.  Down 15-40 in the game and on the verge of going into a tiebreaker, the Bulldog won three straight points to clinch the match 6-3, 2-6, 7-5.
 
The lone match that was abandoned was that of Mio Kozaki who was up 2-1 in the third set versus Nadia Nemeth.
 
QUOTABLES
Head coach Amy Sargeant
 
On the win …
"Today was a gritty team win.  After losing the doubles point, we had to dig deep and persevere through adversity.  We have been working on staying tough and resilient when our backs are against the wall.  Today was the first match this season where all six singles players were on the same page fighting as one."
 
On the three-set wins by June and Ana …
"I am extremely proud of June for winning a tough three-set battle and getting her first conference singles win.  And Ana continues to impress me with her determination and fight for her team.  She is writing her legacy as one of the best in this program."
 
NOTABLES

• With the win, LA Tech now trails in the all-time series versus New Mexico State, 3-4.  The Bulldogs have won three straight over the Aggies.
• LA Tech improved to 6-1 at home this season.
• For the first time this season, the Bulldogs won after dropping the doubles point.  They were previously 0-6 in such matches.
• Ana Rodrigues won her 60th career singles match (fall and spring).  In doing so, the senior became the fourth Bulldog in program history to join the 60/60 club (60 singles and 60 doubles wins).
• Ana Rodrigues, who won her sixth straight singles match, provided the clinching point for the fifth time this season (four of the last five).
• Zoie Epps won her team-best 15th singles match, improving to 15-2.  The sophomore has won all 15 matches via straight sets.
• Alice Brook won her 10th singles match this spring.
• June Vigneron won her second singles match of the spring.

UP NEXT
LA Tech returns to action tomorrow to battle Sam Houston.  First serve is set for Noon CT at the LA Tech Tennis Complex.
 
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