It started in January.
As the LSU women’s tennis team opened its 2016 season with a doubleheader sweep of Nicholls State and Southern University, the first matches at the new LSU Tennis Complex would only be the beginning of a season full of other firsts.
Just three weeks later, the Lady Tigers found themselves in Madison, Wisconsin, at the ITA National Indoor Championships, marking LSU’s first participation in the tournament’s history.
The team jumped five spots in the rankings after a 4-3 victory over then-No. 10 Oklahoma, before falling to No. 5 North Carolina in the quarterfinals in Wisconsin.
With the start of conference play in early March, the Lady Tigers sat at No. 9 in the nation, the highest ranking any LSU women’s tennis team ever received during a season.
For LSU co-head coach Julia Sell, it was all part of moving forward in the direction to be championship contenders. She is two weeks away from competing in the NCAA Tournament beginning on May 13. For the third time of her coaching tenure at LSU, a year of progress has come to its conclusion.
“They don’t feel like they’ve played their best yet,” Sell said. “That’s why we’re very excited to have one last shot to get there. Certainly, you look at everything that’s transpired this year and you got to be nothing but really happy about what the team has accomplished.”
LSU faced tough challenges, both physical and mental, all season. At times, nerves dominanted, doubles partners played too tentatively and confidence in singles play had to reach new heights in order to be victorious.
“It’s been a transitional year,” Sell said. “Going from being that team that’s growing to being a team that should legitimately be top-10 program and put down every team beneath them is just a really tough mentally. Next year, I think they are just going to feel much more comfortable being in those shoes and that position.”
In addition to a mature roster of four upperclassmen, LSU’s signing of the No. 1 recruiting class in the nation sparks high expectations for next season.
Sell said the signification of the incoming Lady Tigers — No. 1 Raveena Kingsley, No. 10 Jade Lewis and No. 13 Rebecca Weissmann — is that they’re used to being the best.
Still, the adaption to SEC women’s tennis won’t be easy, as eight of the 14 teams currently rank inside the nation’s top 25.
“No matter how much information you give them, they never really understand how high the level is until they live through it for a season,” Sell said. “I’m sure they’ll have their tough moments, but we’re going to have so many upperclassmen next year, who have been here for four years and lived through it. I feel like they are going to be able to help them quite a bit.”
LSU’s focus has been on playing its best tennis in May all season. After finishing the regular season with a 17-10 record and delivering then-No. 3 Florida a tough battle in the SEC Championship quarterfinals on April 22, next year’s hopes are tremendous, as Sell continues leading the chase of a National Championship.