The LSU men’s tennis team wrapped up fall competition on a high note Sunday, winning eight of nine matches against South Carolina in the Auburn Invitational. Sunday’s victories were a continuation of a successful weekend for the Tigers. Led by seniors Colt Gaston and Kevin Dessauer, LSU won 23 of the 29 matches they played in, including 16 of 19 singles matches. Gaston defeated No. 79 Pedro Campos in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4. Dessauer, the team captain, cruised in his match, taking out Joe Veeder, 6-1, 6-0. The Tigers received strong performances from their first-year players as well. Freshman Sebastian Carlsson and Ryan Lissner teamed up in doubles competition and defeated Veeder and Chris Sheehan of South Carolina, 8-4. “We are seeing new and higher levels from our freshmen every time out,” LSU coach Jeff Brown said in a press release. “They put in an impressive performance this fall.” In addition to Carlsson and Lissner’s win, junior James Cluskey and freshman Julien Gauthier won their doubles match against USC’s duo of Thomas Stoddard and David Wolff, 8-3. The Tigers won two out of three doubles matches against South Carolina. Carlsson highlighted Saturday’s action for the Tigers, beating Auburn’s Terrence Nugent, 7-6, 6-4, to extend his winning streak in singles competition to six. The Tigers won six of its 11 matches against Auburn. LSU’s most dominating performance of the tournament came in Friday’s opening round play. The Tigers won all nine of their matches against Troy, with five of their six singles matches being taken in straight sets. Senior Jan Zelezny was the only Tiger to go to a third set but eventually finished off Benjamin Chomette, 6-3, 3-6, 6-0, to complete the Tiger’s sweep and earn his 10th victory of the season. The Tigers will return to the courts in January when they host the SEC Coaches’ Indoor Championships in New Orleans for the second consecutive year.
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