The LSU men’s tennis team split its doubleheader Sunday, stumbling against higher-ranked Texas A&M but dominating Nicholls State.
No. 9 Texas A&M proved too much for the Tigers to handle right off the bat as the Aggies swept the doubles point and breezed to a 4-0 victory.
“We didn’t play well in doubles,” said LSU coach Jeff Brown. “They’re a good doubles team and it really compounded with us having an off day in doubles. That was probably one of their best points.”
In singles, the Tigers forced three matches into their last sets, but the Aggies were still able to prevail with relative ease.
Junior Chris Simpson fell behind early, dropping the first set 6-3. Simpson was able to push the second set to the brink but finally lost 7-6 for A&M’s first singles point.
The Aggies were able to get its second singles point from Jordan Szabo when he defeated sophomore Harrison Kennedy 6-4, 7-6.
Sophomore Boris Arias jumped ahead early on No. 25 Shane Vinsant, but Vinsant weathered the storm and won in straight sets for A&M’s final singles point and match clincher.
“They played very well,” Brown said. “That’s about as tough of a team as we’ll face, and I thought we gave ourselves a chance in singles.”
The Tigers turned their night around against Nicholls, easily sweeping the Colonels, 7-0, in match two of the doubleheader.
Doubles started off slow with all three courts battling before the Tigers settled down and took the doubles point with 8-3 and 8-4 wins.
“They’re a pretty decent team,” Brown said. “They gave us a good fight and that’s kind of what you need.”
Singles action brought much of the same as LSU dominated from the start.
Simpson overpowered his opponent, winning in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2.
The rest of the singles matches went the same way as the Tigers took five out of the last six in straight sets with only freshman John Michael Busch needing a third set to finish off his opponent 6-2, 3-6, 6-3.
“I thought a few guys handled their business really well,” Brown said. “It was good for [Busch] to get some experience, especially under pressure with a quality enough opponent.”
The Tigers’ next matchup will be Friday against Mississippi State in Starkville, Miss.
LSU junior Chris Simpson smacks the ball during a match against George Washinton University on March 13, 2014 at the W.T. “Dub” Robinson Stadium.
