The LSU women’s tennis team looks to bounce back, after nearly pulling off an upset against No. 21 Auburn on March 9, head to Missouri Friday.
The match is set to begin at 2 p.m. on Friday at the Mizzou Tennis Complex, and coach Julia Sell said she believes it’ll be a good chance to further develop the young team.
“We have a lot of youth and new faces,” Sell said. “The Auburn match was the first time we settled down. I don’t think we’ve played our best tennis yet. We have a lot of confidence and we look to build on it during practice.”
The women’s team has struggled winning consecutive matches this spring, and the team’s inexperience may be playing a role in the struggles.
The team has yet to fully grow as a unit, but Sell said the team will grow as the season continues.
“I just want to see our youth grow,” Sell said. “I want to be playing our best tennis. The flu bug destroyed Baton Rouge and the weather has been rough. I feel like we haven’t been able to practice much.”
Sell looks to the improved play of freshman Joana Vale Costa, who recently defeated the now No. 33 player in the country from Auburn, Pleun Burgmans, as a bright spot for a squad looking to gain confidence. Vale Costa has moved up to No. 69 in the ITA Rankings.
Vale Costa, the Portugal national, is in the rankings for the first time in her career and will attempt to build on her success against Missouri.
Missouri is winless so far in Southeastern Conference play, but Sell said in the SEC there are no easy matches and she expects to go out there and face Missouri’s best.