The LSU women’s tennis team begins their dual match season Sunday when they travel to Boulder, Colo. to take on the Colorado Buffaloes.
LSU looks to build on the momentum from last weekend’s Wildcat Invitational in Evanston, Ill., where they faced DePaul, University of Illinois at Chicago and No. 12 Northwestern. The Lady Tigers picked up nine wins against UIC and seven against DePaul.
LSU was not as successful against Northwestern but picked up singles victories from junior Keri Frankenberger and sophomore Yvette Vlaar.
“We held our own against [Northwestern] for the most part,” said LSU women’s coach Tony Minnis. “Hopefully that should give us some confidence and make us realize that we’re capable of playing with anybody”.
Minnis said the most important thing he would like to see out of his team is discipline and consistency.
“I feel very confident in what I saw in our singles,” Minnis said. “But to make a run and reach goals that we want to reach, it’s going to be imperative that we’re a complete team in singles and doubles.”
Minnis said seniors Whitney Wolf and Olivia Howlett have provided key leadership this season. Wolf is the career leader in singles wins among the team and was the lone Tiger to pick up wins against ranked opponents in 2011.
LSU last defeated Colorado, 6-1, in Baton Rouge on March 23, 2011.
The LSU Tigers men’s tennis team will open their spring season Sunday in Houston where they battle the Rice Owls.
“I’m excited for the guys,” Brown said. “They’ve been working hard, and I hope they get the result they’re looking for based on what they put into it.”
Rice will have a full plate this weekend while they take on No. 19 Texas in Houston on Friday prior to the Sunday match with No. 33 LSU.
“They’re very even with us,” LSU head coach Jeff Brown said. “We see [Rice] as much as we see any team that’s not in our conference.”
LSU struggled in their last meeting with Rice in October, dropping five singles matches. Brown attributed No. 39 Rice’s success to their depth.
“If everyone is healthy, which it appears they are, they go seven or eight deep, which is good for anyone,” Brown said.
This Sunday’s match will also serve as preparation for next weekend’s ITA Kickoff Weekend in Berkeley, Calif. where the Tigers will face competition from teams such as California, Minnesota, and San Diego.
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