Last season was the second time in Jeff Brown’s 17 years as LSU’s men’s tennis coach that his team failed to qualify for the NCAA tournament.
Brown said the inexperience on last year’s team cost it a few early season matches that led to the Tigers being one of the teams left out of the tournament.
“[Not making the NCAA tournament] was disappointing, but I think this team is beyond that in the sense of generally, we feel like we are always going to make the tournament so that’s not something that we set out as a goal,” Brown said.
The Tigers get their first chance to rebound next Thursday at the Cajun Classic and the SEC Fall Classic. 
Junior Chris Simpson was the only upperclassman on last year’s team roster. Simpson said the pressure of leading the team affected him. 
“I felt like last year was a bit tougher because I was the oldest one on the team,” Simpson said. 
As a senior, Simpson said that last year’s experience would help him and the rest of the team. 
“I know I’m the oldest one again on the team, but I feel like I got a lot of experience last year from it,“ Simpson said. “Everyone is a year older now so everyone knows what is happening.”
The Tigers are not letting last year’s disappointment temper their expectations.
Players gave a variety of goals for the year, like hosting an NCAA event, winning the Southeastern Conference championship and reaching the NCAA tournament Sweet Sixteen. However, one theme remains the same    — improving on last year.
“We had good doubles last year,” Brown said. “I think we’ve got better doubles this year. That’s something that is certainly going to be our strong point.”
While Brown said the doubles teams will be the force driving the Tigers, he also expects the singles lineups will be stronger because of the depth of the roster.  
Six of the Tigers were ranked in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association preseason rankings, and the Tigers feel they have the talent to contend for a championship. 
Simpson and sophomore Jordan Daigle ranked No. 49 and No. 57, respectively for singles. The ITA also ranked two Tigers’ doubles teams — Tam Trinh and Eric Perez along with Justin Butsch and Boris Arias.
Brown said he looks beyond the ranked players and sees others that can make an impact in lineups this year, especially junior Andrew Korinek. 
Korinek is not letting the rankings affect him because he said he knows he can play with anyone in the country. 
“I definitely feel like I can compete with the top guys,” Korinek said. “I played towards the higher end of the lineup, around two last year, and competed with players that are ranked in the fifties and thirties.” 
Brown said he hopes the team can use their rankings to start the fall schedule with confidence, and when the spring schedule gets under way, the team will be ready to achieve its expectations. 
“[Being ranked is] something to build on and something to give you a little pep in your step at practice and carry with you into different tournaments,” Brown said. “We’ve got a nice fall schedule for the guys to compete and get ready for the dual matches… We’re very excited.”