Anytime the Tigers have taken the courts this season, seniors Jordan Daigle and Justin Butsch have locked down courts one and two.
The duo are the only seniors on a relatively young roster. After a five-match losing streak, Daigle was able to clinch the second victory of the season for the Tigers on Feb. 28.
“It was tough,” Daigle said. “I think we had hopes of top-16 and hosting NCAA’s. We had a really good team coming in, and then some of the guys were struggling just a bit which with four freshmen on the team, is to be expected.”
This season hasn’t been what the Tigers have expected, but Butsch said they have a chance to turn the season around.
“We have all been pretty disappointed in how we have played so far [and] how our results have been,” Butsch said. “But that does not mean we cannot turn the season around. This win is a good stepping stone for the future SEC matches going forward.”
The leadership provided by the two will be key in an attempt to resurrect the season.
The Tigers will travel to South Carolina Friday to take on the No. 19 ranked Gamecocks of South Carolina.
“It is weird to be honest,” Daigle said regarding his leadership role. “I have always been an underclassman, always been on a team with a lot of seniors, and kind of been the young guy. To be a senior, it is pretty cool to have the young guys look up to me in practice”
While Daigle is still trying to find the perfect niche as one of the team’s leaders, Butsch has clearly embraced his role.
“I think it is an honor,” Butsch said. “I’ve been doing well with it. This is probably the best year of my career at LSU results wise so far. It’s been good, just trying to be a leader to the young guys and teach them what I know. I’m not perfect, but I am doing my best”
Leadership is not the only thing Butsch and Daigle offer.
The two have played a combined 155 singles matches at the University entering this year.
Butsch, a Florida native, has played all four years at LSU. Daigle, a native of Lafayette, spent a year at Virginia before heading back home to Louisiana.
“It is obviously very different,” Daigle said about the year he spent as a member of the Cavaliers tennis program. “Virginia is probably the opposite of LSU. To come here was basically like coming home.”
Daigle’s experience at Virginia and both his and Butsch’s experiences at the Universityhave given them a different outlook on the program than most.
“We have added new coaches, new facilities, new players, everything has been different,” Butsch said. “We have been growing every year, and I think we are on our way up.”
“It has changed a lot,” Daigle said. “A lot of different guys from a lot of different places coming through, but I think the one constant is just [head coach Jeff] Brown. He is just such a calming guy, practice is really easy going, super understanding and he is just a great coach and a great person to be around.”
And when asked what they cherished the most about their time at the University, both decisively said their teammates.
“These guys are like family to me,” Butsch said. “Every single one of them I have a different relationship with all of them.”
Daigle added: “You spend all your time with these guys. You live with them, practice with them and travel with them. They’re like family, so I am going to be staying in touch with these guys after school.”
LSU junior Jordan Daigle prepares to serve during LSU's defeat against the University of Alabama on Friday, March 18, 2016 at the LSU Tennis Facility
