NEW ORLEANS – Louisiana Tech was one point away from clinching its first ever win over in-state foe Tulane, but the Bulldogs ended up dropping a 4-3 heartbreak to the Green Wave on Sunday at the City Park Tennis Center.
 
LA Tech (12-8) grabbed the doubles point and got two quick singles wins, but Tulane (10-9), who has been ranked as high as No. 61 in the country, won four singles matches to pull off the comeback.
 
The Bulldogs got off to a 1-0 start thanks to a pair of doubles wins on courts one and three.  Ana Rodrigues and Zoie Epps teamed up to defeat the pairing of Campbell Ricci and Leigh Van Zyl 6-4 at the No. 1 spot.  Then there was the duo of Mio Kozaki and Nina Skoric who bested Natalia Fantini and Jiayun Zhu 6-2 at No. 3.  
 
The Green Wave evened the match up at 1-1 following a straight-sets win on court five.  However, Epps and Kozaki both dominated by exact scores of 6-2, 6-1 to give the Bulldogs a 3-1 advantage, needing just one point to take the victory.
 
For Epps, it was overpowering effort versus Summer Chandler at No. 2 for her seventh straight victory and team-leading 18th victory overall this spring.  For Kozaki, it was arguably her best effort of the spring cruising to a win over Micah Pierce at No. 4, this after her last seven matches went unfinished.
 
Tulane stormed back though, getting wins on courts one, three, and six to edge out LA Tech.   
 
NOTABLES

• With the loss, LA Tech now trails in the all-time series with Tulane, 0-6-1.
• LA Tech claimed the doubles point for the 13th time this season.
• Ana Rodrigues won her 47th career dual doubles match, tied for the third most in program history.
• Zoie Epps won her 30th singles match of the season (fall and spring combined). 
• Zoie Epps won her 18th dual singles match, tied for the fifth most in a single season in program history.
• Both pairings of Ana Rodrigues/Zoie Epps and Nina Skoric/Mio Kozaki have won three straight over Sam Houston, Memphis, and Tulane.

UP NEXT
LA Tech will begin a five-match homestand to close out the regular season.  First up is a match against Conference USA opponent Kennesaw State on Friday, April 4.  First serve is set for 11 a.m. CT at the LA Tech Tennis Complex.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
For all the latest in Bulldog Tennis, follow us on X (@LATechTennis), Instagram (@LATechTennis), and Facebook (LATechTennis).