BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Kaitlin Burns, Olivia Howlett, and Whitney Wolf led a banner day for the LSU Lady Tigers tennis team, reaching the third round of the main singles draw on day one of play at the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Southern Regional on the campus of Stamford University on Friday.
Burns reached the third round with a victory over Raphaela Lima of Jacksonville State 6-1, 6-0. Howlett defeated Iris Verboven of Ole Miss. Wolf advanced with her second win of the day over Gabby Rangel of Ole Miss 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.
Six of the seven Lady Tigers competing won their first round matches.
LSU also found doubles success as Wolf and Howlett teamed up to defeat the UAB pair of Caroline Faught and Isabel Fernandez 8-2. Morton and Bodine also reached the main doubles draw second round with a win over ULM’s Vivian Polak and Isabelle Rocher 8-4.
“Today was a great day for the Lady Tigers, we played really well up and down the line,” LSU head coach Tony Minnis said. “We’ll need to keep it up going into tomorrow’s action.”
Play continues Saturday with doubles matches starting the day at 9 a.m. CDT.
The winner of the tournament advances to the USTA/ITA National Indoor Championships at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, site of the U.S. Open, in New York City on November 3.
For the latest information on the women's tennis team, follow the Lady Tigers on Twitter @lsuwten and on www.facebook.com/lsuwten.
Main Draw Singles First Round
Olivia Howlett (LSU) def. Rachel Daniell (UAB) 6-4, 6-4.
Whitney Wolf (LSU) def. Zoe Bizinos (JSU) 6-0, 6-0.
Rebecca Bodine (LSU) def. Emily Zabor (UA) 6-4, 6-3.
Yvette Vlaar (LSU) def. Rebecca Kirven (SAM) 6-2, 6-4.
Kaitlin Burns (LSU) def. Paula Alvarez Pino (UAB) 6-3, 6-3.
Ebie Wilson (LSU) def. Olifa Dhaoui (Troy) 6-0, 3-6, 6-4.
Caroline Rohde Moe (UM) def. Ariel Morton (LSU) 6-1, 6-0.
Main Draw Singles Second Round
Olivia Howlett (LSU) def. Iris Verboven (UM) 6-2, 7-5.
Whitney Wolf (LSU) def. Gabby Rangel (UM) 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.
Kaitlin Burns (LSU) def. Ralphaela Lima (JSU) 6-1, 6-0.
Mariam Kurdadze (Tul) def. Rebecca Bodine (LSU) 6-3, 6-4.
Julia Jones (UM) def. Yvette Vlaar (LSU) 6-4, 6-3.
Kristie Boxx (UM) def. Ebie Wilson (LSU) walkover (Injury)
Main Draw Singles Consolation
Morton (LSU) def. Raisa Guasta (JSU) 6-4, 6-0.
Main Doubles Draw
Wolf/Howlett (LSU) def. Faught/Fernandez (UAB) 8-2.
Blankvoort/Winkel (ULM) def. Burns/Vlaar (LSU) 8-5.
Morton/Bodine (LSU) def. Polak/Rocher (ULM) 8-4.
Saturday Schedule of Play
Main Draw Doubles (9 a.m.)
Wolf/Howlett (LSU) vs. Dhaoui/Ramirez (Troy)
Morton/Bodine (LSU) vs. Pfeifler/Kasler (AU)
Consolation Doubles (10 a.m.)
Burns/Vlaar (LSU) vs. Pavlyuk/Ferancova (MSU)
Main Draw Singles (Noon)
Olivia Howlett (LSU) vs. Mary Anne MacFarlane (UA)
Whitney Wolf (LSU) vs. Taylor Lindsey (UA)
Kaitlin Burns (LSU) vs. Jenny Pfeifler (AU)
Singles Consolation (Noon)
Rebecca Bodine (LSU) vs. Medy Blankvoort (ULM)
