The ranked teams keep coming for the struggling LSU women’s tennis team. The Lady Tigers (2-8, 0-2) face No. 50 Mississippi State (8-2, 1-1) on Friday and No. 22 Ole Miss (7-1, 2-0) and Southern on Sunday at W.T. “Dub” Robinson Stadium. LSU’s eight-game losing streak hasn’t fazed women’s coach Tony Minnis.  ”I might sound crazy, but I’m actually still positive about how our team’s playing,” he said. Minnis said he expects a turnaround this weekend after facing perhaps the most dominant team in the nation, No. 5 Florida.”I think we’ve got a shot to knock off these teams,” he said. “Florida was really good. In my opinion, I think they’re the best team in the country.”Three of the Lady Tigers’ last four matches were against top-20 teams. Minnis said the recent rotten luck can be attributed to the harsh schedule.”We’ve played an extremely tough schedule,” he said. “Now we’re playing good teams, but it’s not quite as high a caliber. I’m trying to focus on giving [the players] some confidence, and hopefully we can get one win and keep it rolling from there.”Minnis said the Lady Tigers will be put to the test this weekend, despite a slight dropoff in talent from LSU’s recent competition.The Rebels are on a five-match win streak and feature reigning Southeastern Conference Player of the Week junior Connor Vogel. The Lady Bulldogs have lost only one of their last eight matches. ”Mississippi State is having one of the best years they’ve had in a long time, and Ole Miss is very tough,” Minnis said.Minnis said it could prove costly if the Lady Tigers look further than their next matchup.”We’re not really looking too far ahead,” he said. “We’re just focused on Mississippi State.”
MEN TRAVEL TO MISS ST., OLE MISS
The No. 62 LSU men’s tennis team (3-6, 1-1) leaves Baton Rouge to face No. 49 Mississippi State (6-5, 0-2) on Friday and No. 13 Ole Miss (9-2, 1-1) on Sunday.No. 6 Kentucky snapped the Rebels’ 23-match conference winning streak last weekend. ”Ole Miss lost a few players, but they’re very tough to beat at home,” said LSU men’s coach Jeff Brown. “They’ve got a very strong lineup.”Brown said the Bulldogs are a dangerous and frustrated team after dropping two tight matches.”They had match point on No. 8 Kentucky on the road last weekend, and they had match points on Vanderbilt as well,” he said. “They’re probably a little bit irritated right now and are looking to get things right.”Brown said both SEC rivals will finish the year toward the top of the national rankings.”Mississippi State is one of the most improved teams this year, and they’re going to certainly finish in the top 25,” he said. “Ole Miss will probably finish in the top 10 or 15.”Sophomore Neal Skupski picked up a ranked win against South Carolina last weekend. Brown said the SEC win was a confidence boost for all of the Tigers.”It was very important for Neal to win and for [junior] Julien [Gauthier] to get a win,” he said. “Skupski was feeling a little bit better after the South Carolina match.”——Contact Rowan Kavner at [email protected]