BATON ROUGE, La. – The Nicholls State University women's tennis team saw its seven-match winning streak come to an end Wednesday evening as the Colonels dropped a 5-1 decision to No. 41 LSU at W.T. 'Dub' Robinson Stadium.
The teams elected to not play doubles and the host Tigers took the first four completed matches to earn the victory. LSU earned all five of its points in straight sets, while
Kateryna Nakonechna came away with a win at No. 6 in a tiebreaker to prevent the shutout.
Stephanie Barnett was defeated 6-2, 6-0 to No. 39 Joana Vale Costa at No. 1, while
Klara Skopac also fell to a ranked opponent, dropping a 6-1, 6-4 decision to No. 69 Skylar Kuykendall at No. 2. On the No. 4 court,
Milou Pietersz fell 6-2, 6-0 to Ella Taylor, and
Marie Aubert took a 6-4, 6-1 loss against Noel Scott at No. 3 to give LSU the team victory.
With the match already decided,
Isla Brock came up short on the No. 5 court, falling 6-3, 7-6 (8-6) to Skylar Holloway. On the No. 6 court, Nakonechna won a three-set 6-4, 2-6, 1-0 (10-6) match against Amanda Atanasson.
The Colonels will play their next four matches on the road, starting Friday, March 27, against Texas Pan-American.
#41 LSU 5, Nicholls 1
Singles
1. #39 Joana Vale Costa (LSU) def. Stephanie Barnett (NICH) 6-2, 6-0
2. #69 Skylar Kuykendall (LSU) def. Klara Skopac (NICH) 6-1, 6-4
3. Noel Scott (LSU) def. Marie Aubert (NICH) 6-4, 6-1
4. Ella Taylor (LSU) def. Milou Pietersz (NICH) 6-2, 6-0
5. Skylar Holloway (LSU) def. Isla Brock (NICH) 6-3, 7-6 (8-6)
6. Kateryna Nakonechna (NICH) def. Amanda Atanasson (LSU) 6-4, 3-6, 1-0 (10-6)
Nicholls 11-3, 5-0
LSU 13-7, 3-4; National ranking #41
Order of finish: Doubles (); Singles (1,4,2,3,5,6)