The LSU women’s tennis team takes a four-game losing streak into today’s match against Prairie View A&M at 4 p.m. in W.T. ‘Dub’ Robinson Stadium.
It is the Lady Tigers (7-5, 0-4) first non-conference match since the team’s 7-0 win on March 1 against Houston University.
“It’s just been one of those years,” said LSU coach Tony Minnis after Sunday’s 7-0 loss to Vanderbilt. “Injuries have hurt us lately, and if we can get healthy, we will be in good shape. We can still turn this around.”
Minnis stressed the importance of the doubles play and said injuries have especially plagued that area of the team’s matches.
The Lady Tigers have lost the doubles point in their last four matches. The team began its Southeastern Conference matches against the University of Tennessee, University of Georgia, University of Kentucky and Vanderbilt University by dropping the opening point.
One of the team’s top-ranked players went down earlier this season, which has forced freshman Mykala Hedberg to step in to try and fill the hole.
LSU senior Lauren Seaman injured her lower back on Feb. 26 during a 6-1 win against Lamar University in Baton Rouge.
“I was having back problems and couldn’t rotate properly,” Seaman said during Sunday’s match.
Minnis said the team’s doubles play has suffered without one of its senior leaders.
“It’s been tough without Lauren,” Minnis said. “Her and Tiffany [Tucker] were one of our best doubles pairings.”
With a combined record of 12-8 this season, Seaman and Tucker were ranked 35th at the end of February by Fila Collegiate Tennis Rankings.
“I’m looking forward to coming back,” Seamen said. “I should be back really soon.”
The Lady Tigers will face a struggling Prairie View A&M team. The Panthers (4-14, 0-3) come into the match after dropping their last two events to Alcorn State and Alabama A&M on April 2.
 
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