SAN DIEGO – San Diego Women's Tennis opened the season with a 2-5 home loss at the hands of LSU, the two points coming off Torero singles wins against the world's 265^th and 340^th ranked players.
 
At number two singles, ITA No. 31 Kailey Evans, a San Diego redshirt senior, posted a straight set 6-4, 6-3 win over the Tigers' Kayla Cross, the WTA No. 265 player. Fellow USD senior Claudia de las Heras followed it up with a tremendous comeback from down 6-7 (1-7), 1-4 to top LSU No. 1 singles player Cadence Brace, WTA No. 340, 6-7, 6-4, [11-9].
 
San Diego freshmen Anni Puls, Gabby Gregg and Hannah Read all fell in their Torero dual match debuts, Puls and Gregg to ranked opponents. USD dropped the doubles point two matches to none.
 
The Toreros will be back in action on Sunday, facing another team outside the ITA top-25 while still receiving votes, UC Santa Barbara, at noon at the Hogan Tennis Center.
 
Results
 
USD 2, LSU 5
 
Doubles
1. Cadence Brace/Kayla Cross (LSU) def. #38 Claudia de las Heras/Kailey Evans (USD) 6-2
2. Tilwith Di Girolami/Anita Sahdiieva (LSU) vs. Anni Puls/Hannah Read (USD) 4-2 unfinished
3. Gaby Rivera/Kenna Erickson (LSU) def. Gabby Gregg/Kristina Nordikyan (USD) 6-0
 
Singles
1. Claudia de las Heras (USD) def. Cadence Brace (LSU) 6-7 (1-7), 6-4 [11-9]
2. #31 Kailey Evans (USD) def. Kayla Cross (LSU) 6-4, 6-3
3. Tilwith Di Girolami (LSU) def. Kristina Nordikyan (USD) 7-5, 6-4
4. #125 Anita Sahdiieva (LSU) def. Anni Puls (USD) 6-1, 6-1
5. Kinaa Graham (LSU) def. #105 Hannah Read (USD) 6-3, 2-6, 6-3
6. #120 Gaby Rivera (LSU) def. Gabby Gregg (USD) 2-6, 6-1, 6-4
 
Match Notes
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1); Singles (4,2,3,5,6,1)
Records: USD (0-1), LSU (1-0)