When the LSU women’s tennis team takes to the courts next season, one key figure will be missing: Whitney Wolf.
Wolf, the Lady Tigers’ unofficial team leader and only four-year senior, will graduate this year after four consecutive seasons in the starting lineup.
Posting a 69-80 career singles record, her stats may not match up against other LSU greats. But unlike many others, Wolf has competed on court one since her sophomore season.
The added difficulty of facing tougher opponents may have hindered her in the win column, but Wolf said that she welcomed the challenge.
“It was nice because the competition is really good and it gave me a lot of opportunities to get good wins and get myself ranked,” Wolf said. “But it was also really difficult because there aren’t any easy matches. You have to compete really well every match if you want to have a shot.”
LSU tennis coach Tony Minnis said only someone with the toughness and athleticism Wolf possesses can handle the physical and mental toll the No. 1 position takes.
“I know how tough mentally that is. It wears on you,” Minnis said. “It’s a tough position to be in, knowing that every time you go out you’ll be facing the other team’s best.”
Wolf and the Lady Tigers are currently awaiting the announcement of their postseason fate.
In the Southeastern Conference Tournament, the No. 7-seed Lady Tigers were upset, 4-1, by No. 10-seed Arkansas, putting LSU’s hopes for an NCAA tournament bid in jeopardy.
On Tuesday during the NCAA Women’s Tennis Team Tournament Selection Show, the Lady Tigers will find out if their season – and Wolf’s career – will continue.
“It’s tough not knowing – we’re like right on the edge – but [getting selected] would just make a much better end to our season and a much better way to go out,” Wolf said.
If LSU is left out of the tournament, Minnis and the Lady Tigers will begin the daunting task of replacing their three-year No. 1 starter.
Two candidates to replace Wolf on the top court are juniors Kaitlin Burns and Keri Frankenberger, Wolf’s doubles partner for the past three seasons.
“It’s always tough to replace a No. 1 player, but we’re just going to have to have other players step up next year and hopefully fill that void,” Minnis said.
 
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Contact Spencer Hutchinson at [email protected]