After winning the 2019 season opener at the University of South Florida, the Lady Tigers tennis team looks to continue their early success at the ITA Kick-Off Weekend in Tallahassee, Florida this weekend.

The Lady Tigers won their first match of the year 6-1, giving the team early momentum going into their next tournament. No. 9-ranked duo, sophomore Eden Richardson and senior Jessica Golovin, and No. 30-ranked duo, sophomore Taylor Bridges and junior Paris Corley, set the tone early giving the team the doubles point.

Senior Kennan Johnson and freshman Anna Loughlan’s match remained unfinished, but the team continued their success in singles. The Lady Tigers only lost one of the seven total matches and lost only four of fifteen sets.

“We started our season with a very tough opponent and while we didn’t play our best, we handled the adversity of the day extremely well and come out with a win,” said LSU co-head coach Julia Sell. “This is a positive way to start the season, and now we will return home to get ready for the ITA Kickoff Weekend.”

The team is scheduled to play Clemson and the winner of Florida State and Tennessee in Tallahassee.

Clemson comes into the tournament with a 4-0 record in the early season. The team won 16-3 on the weekend after defeating the College of Charleston and Presbyterian College. Clemson won the doubles point in three of its four matches, which poses a challenge for the Lady Tigers.

Florida State also comes into the tournament with an early undefeated record, 3-0. The Seminoles defeated Mercer University 7-0 to open the season , Florida Atlantic University 7-0 and No. 20 University of Central Florida 5-2. Florida State won the double’s point against a highly ranked UCF team, giving the team momentum going into this weekend.

The Seminoles will open the tournament against a Tennessee team that dominated the University of North Alabama in its opener. The Lady Vols won all six doubles points and didn’t lose a set in the singles matches.

LSU’s doubles matches will be difficult as both Florida State and Tennessee’s duos are playing well together early in the season.

The Lady Tigers face a tough schedule for their first tournament of the year. Each team in the tournament is talented and carrying momentum into the weekend. The ITA Kick-Off Weekend begins at noon Friday, Jan. 25 for LSU.