For the second consecutive weekend, the LSU women’s tennis team will compete against a familiar opponent.
No. 43 LSU (3-0) will play Rice (0-2) for the third straight year Saturday at 1 p.m. in the W.T. ‘Dub’ Robinson Stadium.
The Lady Owls knocked the Tigers out of the top-25 ranking last season when Rice won a 4-3 match in Houston.
“They are a very good team, and we lost a heartbreaker to them last year,” said coach Tony Minnis. “We are looking forward to the challenge of playing them here in Baton Rouge. I have noticed an increased intensity level in practice, and we have to keep that going throughout the rest of the schedule. This is probably the hardest-working team I have ever had.”
Even though Rice has not won a match this season, the Lady Owls’ two losses were to No. 12 UCLA and No. 28 Pepperdine on the road.
Rice boasts a nationally ranked player in No. 31 Blair DeSesa in the top spot in the rotation.
Although Minnis has not decided on who will match up with DeSesa in the top spot, freshman Mykala Hedberg played that position last weekend.
“If I am playing her, I will treat it just like anything else,” Hedberg said. “Obviously, she has to be good to have that ranking, but I am not going into this match thinking that I can’t hold my own against her. I am going to make her earn every point.”
The Tigers won three matches against Louisiana teams last weekend, but sophomore Tiffany Tucker said Rice will be their toughest competition so far.
“Rice beat us last year, and I think that is making us more determined to play them this time,” Tucker said. “This is our first real match-up, and I am looking forward to continuing with the season.”
 
Contact Matt Vines at [email protected]