RUSTON – After waiting nearly a month to play its home opener, No. 64 Louisiana Tech set the tone early helping to secure a 6-1 victory over Stephen F. Austin on Saturday afternoon at the LA Tech Tennis Complex.
 
LA Tech (6-2), winners of five of its last six, locked up the doubles point and then followed that up with straight set victories on five of the six singles courts.
 
Mio Kozaki and Diana Starodubtseva got the winning started for the Bulldogs, prevailing 6-1 at the No. 3 position.  Clinching the opening point was their court neighbor, Alice Brook and Maria Tsironi, who delivered a 6-4 victory at No. 2.
 
The 'Dogs did not let their foot off the gas.  June Vigneron surrendered just one game against Avery Kinsey, dominating 6-0, 6-1 on court five to give LA Tech a 2-0 advantage. 
 
Making it 3-0 in favor of the home squad was Isabella Walker who made quick work of Alkmini Giannakogiorgou 6-1, 6-3 on court six.  Soon thereafter, Tsironi provided the clinching point for LA Tech, downing Ana Paula Chavez 6-2, 6-2 on court four.
 
SFA (0-4) would get its lone point of the match on court two with a victory by Sonja Rooth, but LA Tech tacked on two more points with Zoie Epps getting the best of Felicia Back 6-2, 6-4 at No. 1 and Starodubtseva prevailing 6-3, 6-4 over Antonella Taco.
 
QUOTABLES
Head coach Amy Sargeant
 
On the win…
"I am incredibly proud of how we competed today in our first home match of the season.  Setting the tone early and securing the doubles point at two and three speaks volumes about our preparation, belief, and commitment to each other.  We made a clear decision to play on our terms to be the aggressors, to attack the ball with our feet, and to keep the game simple and disciplined.  That mindset showed up across the board."
 
"What impressed me the most today was the maturity and growth this team displayed.  We understand what is ahead of us with a tough road stretch, and today proved we are building the habits and resilience needed to rise to that challenge."

NOTABLES

• With the win, LA Tech now leads the all-time series versus Stephen F. Austin, 22-9.  The Bulldogs have won nine of the last 10 meetings.
• The Bulldogs improved to 101-32 all-time at the LA Tech Tennis Complex.
• Amy Sargeant picked up win No. 40, which is tied for the second most all-time by a LA Tech head coach.
• LA Tech has won eight straight home matches dating back to last season, tied for the fifth longest streak in program history.
• LA Tech improved to 29-16 in dual singles this season, winning five of the six singles matches versus the Lumberjacks.
• Zoie Epps and Isabella Walker each won their team-leading sixth dual singles match.
• The Bulldogs won the doubles point for the fifth time this season.  All three doubles pairings have four victories this spring.
• Isabella Walker clinched the team match for the second time this season (also did so in the season opener versus Wyoming)

UP NEXT
LA Tech will begin a three-game road swing on Saturday, Feb. 28 against UAB at the Hoover Met Tennis Center.
 
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