HOUSTON – The LSU women’s tennis team found success in doubles on day one of play at the Rice Invitational as sophomores Ariel Morton and Yvette Vlaar defeated Tulane’s Caroline Magnusson and Emily Dvorak 8-4 in the first round on Friday.
The pair now advances to the quarterfinals where they will take on Katie Gater and Dominique Harmath of Rice on Saturday.
In singles play, Morton moved into to the semifinals of the Blue Consolation Draw emerging victorious after a marathon third set over Penn State’s Marie Bedard 6-7 (4), 6-0, 14-12 in the day’s second round of singles matches.
Freshman Rebecca Bodine also went through to the Gray Consolation Draw semifinals after a win over another Nittany Lion, Sarah Henderson 6-2, 6-2.
The Lady Tigers take to the court again on Saturday with doubles play beginning at 9 a.m. CDT and singles action beginning at noon. The Tournament concludes Sunday.
“I’m looking forward to seeing how the girls respond tomorrow after a grueling day,” LSU assistant coach Lisa Jackson said. “This tournament has a lot of matches in a short time so it’s going to take a lot out of us, but hopefully we can get some wins.”
For the latest information on the women’s tennis team, follow the Lady Tigers on Twitter @lsuwten and on www.facebook.com/lsuwten.
Rice Invitational (First Round)
Blue Singles Draw
Gater (Rice) def. Vlaar (LSU) 6-1, 6-4.
McNight (DePaul) def. Morton (LSU) 6-3, 6-2.
Gray Singles Draw
Mitrea (DePaul) def. Bahnsen (LSU) 6-0, 6-2.
L. Dvorak (Tulane) def. Bodine (LSU) 2-6, 6-2, 6-4.
Neumann (DePaul) def. Everett (LSU) 6-4, 7-5.
Doubles (First Round)
Begley/Martin (UT) def. Bodine/Wilson (LSU) 8-1.
Beazant/Nguyen (Rice) def. Everett/Bahnsen (LSU) 8-1.
Morton/Vlaar (LSU) def. Magnusson/E. Dvorak (Tulane) 8-4.
Blue Singles Consolation Draw (Quarterfinals)
Thornton (Tulane) def. Vlaar (LSU) 7-5, 6-2.
Morton (LSU) def. Bedard (PSU) 6-7 (4), 6-0, 14-12.
Gray Singles Consolation Draw (Quarterfinals)
Perrotta (PSU) def. Bahnsen (LSU) 6-3, 6-2.
Bodine (LSU) def. Henderson (PSU) 6-2, 6-2.
Prishylak (PSU) def. Everett (LSU) 6-2, 6-0.
Saturday Schedule of Play
Doubles Winners Draw
Quarterfinals (9 a.m.)
Vlaar/Morton (LSU) vs. Gater/Harmath (Rice)
Doubles Consolation Draw
Quarterfinals (9 a.m.)
Everett/Bahnsen (LSU) vs. Utting/Sertic (PSU)
Bodine/Wilson (LSU) vs. Thornton/L. Dvorak (Tulane)
Blue Singles Consolation
Semifinals (Noon)
Morton (LSU) vs. Magnusson (Tulane)
Gray Singles Consolation
Semifinals (Noon)
Bodine (LSU) vs. Perrotta (PSU)
Consolation Bracket (Noon)
Bahnsen (LSU) vs. Henderson (PSU)
Everett (LSU) vs. Dvorak (Tulane)
