CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Once again a match between New Orleans and Southeastern went right down to the wire. As it was in the regular season, the Lady Lions held on to defeat the Privateers 4-3 in the first round of the Southland Tournament.
It all came down to flight five between
Raluca Puscas and Flory Bierma. Puscas won the first set 6-4 and was up a break early in the second. However, Bierma came back and won the last three games to take the second set 7-5.
In the deciding set, Bierma got ahead a break after game three. Puscas had a couple of big service holds though and found the breakthrough to tie the score at 4-4. However, Bierma broke right back and then held her own serve to win the match for Southeastern.
It was a back-and-forth battle with nothing in between both sides. Southeastern began the day by winning the doubles point after scoring wins by margins of 6-3 at flight one and 6-2 at flight two.
Then it was the Privateers' turn to get momentum on their side.
Didi Bredberg Canizares had a dominating performance, winning 10 of her last 11 games to defeat Putri Insani 6-2, 6-0 and tie the match score.
Laurie Barendse also had a strong effort against Gabrielle Dekkers. Barendse won the first set by a double break and continued that momentum by winning the first four games of the second set in a 6-2, 6-1 decision.
The Lady Lions scored the next two points as Carla Del Barrio won by a single break in each of her sets (6-4, 6-4) and Alba Perez turned in a 6-2, 6-0 decision at flight six to put Southeastern up 3-2 in the match.
Tristanne Dechoux extended the match to the end as she found a service break to win her second set and match against Kate Oborina 7-5, 6-4. After a first set that saw wild swings of momentum, Dechoux broke serve to stay in the first set then won the next two games.
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