The LSU women’s tennis team had a season of ups and downs leading up to the Southeastern Conference Tournament, including a three-game winning streak and a four-game losing streak.
The Lady Tigers’ play in the SEC during the regular season wasn’t much to be proud of, finishing 3-10, with those three wins against teams that finished below them in the standings. Only Arkansas, Missouri and Mississippi State finished the regular season with worse conference records.
But like tournament play of numerous other collegiate sports, all a team needs is another chance, and the Lady Tigers were able to capitalize on some of those chances when they began their SEC Tournament play on April 16.
The rough year for the Lady Tigers seemingly guaranteed they would not receive a bid to the 2014 NCAA Tournament, but after a surprise run to the quarterfinals in the SEC Tournament, the Lady Tigers are seemingly on the bubble to go dancing.
The Lady Tigers’ first opponent in the opening round was Mississippi State, who finished tied for last in the SEC with Missouri.
In the regular season meeting between the two teams, LSU came away with a 4-1 victory in Baton Rouge, giving the impression that much of the same would happen the second time around.
LSU won the match, but it wasn’t nearly as easy the second time around.
The Lady Tigers fought back from a 3-1 deficit before taking the next three singles matches, two of which were won in straight sets to win the match, 4-3.
LSU coach Julia Sell said changes in the doubles pairings led to the Lady Tigers salvaging the doubles point, which proved to be the difference in the match.
“If we didn’t win that doubles point, we would have lost that match 4-0,” Sell said. “Three of [Mississippi State’s] girls came off quick that day. [The doubles point] was key because the girls felt they could win at every spot.”
After a high-emotion win against the Lady Bulldogs, the Lady Tigers had to turn their focus to the No. 26 ranked Tennessee Lady Volunteers the next day.
LSU dropped its regular season meeting in relatively close fashion, 4-3, giving the Lady Tigers a reason to believe they could come out on top the next time around.
Sell said the players had plenty of close matches this season that they felt they should have been on the winning side of, and it was only time before they were able to break through and get a marquee win.
The Lady Tigers did more than break through against the Lady Vols, defeating them in dominant fashion, 4-0, winning every singles match in straight sets.
“I was just so excited for the girls,” Sell said. “You need a win like that to validate everything you have been doing and all of the effort and discipline you put in day by day.”
The win against the Lady Vols gave the Lady Tigers their only victory against an opponent ranked in the top 40 all season.
LSU’s next opponent was No. 6 Georgia, who proved to be too much for the Lady Tigers. Their surprising run to the quarterfinals was put to an end with a 4-0 sweep.
Sell said the Lady Tigers have a shot at making the tournament, but their lack of wins against top ranked opponents could come to haunt them come selection time.
The Lady Tigers will await for the Selection Committee’s decision on April 29 at 4:30 p.m. to see if they will be given a chance to make another surprise run this season.