Courtesy of LA Tech Athletic Communications
Tennis
The Louisiana Tech Tennis team closed out the fall portion of its schedule on Sunday at the John Cade Invitational, highlighted by a third-place finish in the Maroon singles bracket for Olga Bienzobas.
Four Bulldogs ended up competing in the three-day event, played on the campus of Mississippi State University at the A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre and Rula Tennis Pavilion.
Bienzobas opened up the tournament with a 6-3, 7-5 victory over Alexandra Mikhailuk of Mississippi State in the round of 16. She backed that up on day two with a gutsy 7-6 (7), 7-6 (2) win against Stanislava Shulzhenko of North Texas to break into the semifinals. She had a big hold at 5-6 to get to a first-set tiebreaker where she overcame one set point to. In the second set, she had three match points to close it out, but took care of business in another tiebreaker after exploding to a 5-1 edge.
The senior ended up falling to the eventual champion Emma Kette of Ole Miss, but rebounded in the consolation match with another victory over a Mississippi State opponent. After losing the first set, 2-6, to Dharani Niroshan, she forced a third set with a 6-2 win of her own. Down 1-3, Bienzobas closed it out with wins in five straight games.
Also playing singles in the Maroon bracket was Tiffani Nash. The senior lost a three-set marathon to Niroshan in the round of 16, but collected a pair of wins in the consolation bracket over Nformi Stadfany (North Texas) by a score of 4-6, 6-2, 1-0 (5) and Ibifuro Clement (Louisville) by a score of 6-4, 6-3.
Ana Rodrigues cashed in with one singles win in the White bracket, outlasting Allie Gretkowski of Louisville by score of 3-6, 6-4, 1-0 (11).
Meanwhile, each doubles team – Rodrigues/Vasquez and Bienzobas/Nash – notched a victory over the same duo from Louisville (Clement/Noguero) by scores of 8-5 and 8-2, respectively.
JOHN CADE INVITATIONAL RESULTS
SINGLES
Olga Bienzobas (Maroon Bracket)
R16 – def. Alexandra Mikhailuk (Mississippi State) 6-3, 7-5
Q – def. Stanislava Shulzhenko (North Texas) 7-6 (7), 7-6 (2)
S – lost to Emma Kette (Ole Miss) 1-6, 2-6
C – def. Dharani Niroshan (Mississippi State) 2-6, 6-2, 6-3
Ana Rodrigues (White Bracket)
R16 – def. Jamilah Snells (Louisville) withdraw
Q – lost to Maria Rizzolo (Mississippi State) 3-6, 1-6
C – def. Allie Gretkowski (Louisville) 3-6, 6-4, 1-0 (11)
C – lost to Pitta (Mississippi State) 4-6, 6-1, 0-1 (8)
Valentina Vasquez (White Bracket)
R16 – lost to Lika Persypkina (Louisville) 6-7 (2), 6-3, 3-6
C – lost to Lilly Schultz (North Texas) 3-6, 6-4, 0-1 (7)
C – lost to Chalard (North Texas) 5-7, 7-5, 0-1 (6)
Tiffani Nash (Maroon Bracket)
R16 – lost to Dharani Niroshan (Mississippi State) 5-7, 6-3, 2-6
C – def. Nformi Stadfany (North Texas) 4-6, 6-2, 1-0 (5)
C – def. Ibifuro Clement (Louisville) 6-4, 6-3
DOUBLES
Ana Rodrigues/Valentina Vasquez
R16 – lost to Allie Gretkowski/Lika Persypkina (Louisville) 3-8
C – lost to Germany Davis/Jamilah Snells (Louisville) 6-8
C – def. Ibifuro Clement/Elena Noguero (Louisville) 8-5
Olga Bienzobas/Tiffani Nash
R16 – def. Ibifuro Clement/Elena Noguero (Louisville) 8-2
Q – lost to Lilly Schultz/Nformi Stadfany (North Texas) 4-8
C – lost to Emma Kette/Reka Zadori (Ole Miss) 2-8
C – lost to Carolina Laydner/Stanislava Shulzhenko (North Texas) 6-8
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Soccer
The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (5-10-3, 2-4-2) would fall at home against Liberty Flames (14-2-1,5-2-1). The Bulldogs fell 4-1 to the Flames on Sunday evening at Robert Mack Caruthers Field.
“Liberty came out with a purpose because they clearly had something to play for,” said Steve Voltz. “We certainly weren’t at our best early on because of distractions from the senior day and having clinched a spot but that is not our standard. It has to be better and we addressed it at halftime. We certainly came out with a little more purpose in the second half.
“Now it’s tournament time so can we reignite what helped us get here the last couple of weeks for this? Super proud of seniors Joise Studer, Alma Cedefors, Laura Ogando, Sophie Fijneman, and Lauren Egbuloniu and what they have brought to this program. Now we have to make sure we show up on Wednesday night and show everyone what we are capable of.”
In the first half, the Bulldogs conceded four first-half goals to the Flames. Liberty’s Ava Goodman scored back-to-back goals in the 9th and 11th minute. Goodman’s 11th-minute goal was assisted by Bridie Herman. Liberty’s Saydie Holland would score in the 21st minute and Sallie Garner helped an assist. The Liberty’s final goal came from Claire Valentine in the 27th minute, which was assisted by Avenley Monteith.
In the second period, the Bulldogs would pick up its lone goal of the match in the 65th minute. Kyra Taylor scored Louisiana Tech’s only goal of the match with help from Flavie Dube. The Bulldogs did keep the Flames scoreless for the rest match.
LA Tech faces Western Kentucky on Wednesday for the second game of the C-USA Conference Tournament at Robert Mack Caruthers Field. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. CT and will be streamed live on ESPN+.
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Golf
The Louisiana Tech Golf team recorded their best round of the Steelwood Collegiate Invitational, shooting 291 (+3) to jump two spots to 11th in closing out the event Sunday at the Steelwood Country Club.
After being led by Lake Juban in the first two rounds, it was Hunter Battles who had the top score for LA Tech after shooting 70 (-2) with near bogey-free round of three birdies and one bogey on No. 4. The 70 tied his senior’s season low and marked his third round in the red this season, tying for 37th (78-74-70=222 (+6)).
Will Patrick had his day of the tournament, getting off to a good start with birdies on two of his first three holes in route to shooting 72 (E).
The third score was provided by Juban who matched his third round with his first two rounds with a 73 (+1), an 18-hole effort that included eagles on No. 9 and No. 18. The senior ended up tying for 26th (73-73-73=219 (+3)) on the player leaderboard, his best finish of the season.
Jake Plumb was responsible for the fourth score used by the Bulldogs, overcoming a 42 on the back nine to shoot a 34 on the front with birdies on No. 3 and No. 8 to shoot 76 (+4).
Alabama claimed the team title at the Steelwood Collegiate Invitational. LA Tech collected wins over West Virginia, UAB, and Rice in shooting 299-299-291=889 (+25).
