The LSU men’s tennis team did something in 2009 that Coach Jeff Brown’s teams haven’t done since the 2001-02 season — finished the regular season with a losing record. But the Tigers (10-11, 4-7) will host the opening rounds of the NCAA Championships May 8-9 at W.T. “Dub” Robinson Stadium after enduring an up-and-down season. “I’m excited for our players and fans to have another opportunity for the team to play at home,” Brown said in a news release. LSU’s struggles this year were not a true testament of its capabilities, according to Brown.   The Tigers faced a grueling spring schedule that included 12 games against ranked opponents. Seven of the top 19 teams in the NCAA are from the Southeastern Conference, which gave LSU one of the tougher schedules in the nation. LSU started the spring ranked No. 16 in the country and moved as high as No. 14 on Feb. 24, before losing seven of its next nine matches. Ironically during this stretch, Brown thought his team was on the bubble and was unsure his team would make the postseason.Though LSU had a difficult spring, one Tiger showed glimpses of greatness in the fall — senior Michael Venus.Venus, the SEC Player of the Year, wrapped up the fall semester with a 7-1 singles record, including a victory against the nation’s top player, Oklahoma State’s Oleksandr Nedovyesov, to capture the D’Novo All-American Tennis Championship.He became the first Tiger to accomplish that feat. Venus, who is the No. 7 singles player in the country, and fellow seniors James Cluskey and Jonathan Tragardh were honored before the season finale against Arkansas two weeks ago. Brown couldn’t say enough about Venus, who transferred to LSU last season after spending two years at Texas. “His work ethic has been the key to his success throughout his life and led to him landing All-American and being able to play at No. 1,” he said. “He’s been a real treat to come out to practice each day and watch how hard he works.” Venus has compiled a 23-8 singles record so far this season for a 38-17 career record.LADY TIGERS ENJOY SUCCESSFUL SEASONLike the men, the No. 25 LSU women’s tennis team endured a daunting spring schedule and was part of a conference that saw nine teams, including the Lady Tigers, finish the regular season in the top 25. “When you have that kind of schedule and you have to get up that much, your intensity can be up and down,” said LSU women’s coach Tony Minnis. “The road in the SEC is really tough.” To go along with a tough schedule, weather was one uncontrollable factor the Lady Tigers (13-10, 3-7) dealt with throughout the season.  The Lady Tigers’ March 13 match with Vanderbilt was rained out, and several matches were played indoors, including their SEC tournament match against Ole Miss. Minnis reached a milestone March 25 against Oregon when he won the 250th match of his coaching career, but it came at an expense. He and his team sat through a three-hour rain delay before defeating Oregon, 5-2. Minnis said he was more excited about the players’ performance than about his milestone. “I am as proud of them as any team I’ve ever coached,” he said.  LSU enjoyed one of the more successful weekends of its season a month ago. The Lady Tigers’ 4-3 victory against then-No. 16 Florida marked the first time the Lady Tigers defeated the Gators in program history. Two days later, LSU knocked off South Carolina, 5-2, on a day when four seniors — Megan Falcon, Mykala Hedberg, Staten Spencer and Chandler Kleinpeter — were honored during pregame ceremonies. Falcon, the No. 13 singles player in the NCAA, had another stellar year for the Lady Tigers, finishing the year 31-7 in singles play.  Her victory in the SEC tournament against Ole Miss was the 96th of her career, leaving her one shy of moving into a tie for eighth place on LSU’s all-time wins list. The Lady Tigers experienced a first in the fall. The doubles team of Falcon and Hedberg, currently No. 17 in the NCAA, went on to the Wilson/ITA Southwest Regional Tournament doubles championship, the first under Minnis. But the Lady Tigers head into the NCAA championships on a sour note. They have dropped four straight matches since knocking off Florida and South Carolina.——Contact Sean Isabella at [email protected]