The LSU men’s tennis team will open its regular-season home slate with a doubleheader today against No. 39 Drake University at 3 p.m. and Nicholls State University at 7 p.m. at the LSU Tennis Complex.
The Tigers have been off for several week since their loss to Rice on Jan. 31, after failing to qualify for the 2016 ITA Division I National Men’s Team Indoor Championships last month.
“I think it was good to have a week or so to cool off after the match which we weren’t happy with our performances, but we are all really hungry to get going now,” said sophomore Simon Freund.
Drake is riding a three-game winning streak, including an upset win against then-No. 23 Minnesota, after starting the season 2-3.
“We’re expecting a challenge, much like when we face strong SEC teams, but there’s a lack of a familiarity because we don’t see them often,” said LSU coach Jeff Brown.
After facing the Bulldogs,the Tigers will take on Nicholls (1-2) as the second part of their home opener.
The matchup marks the second-straight season LSU has opened its open home schedule against in-state rival Nicholls. In 2015, the Tigers swept the Colonels, 7-0.
These matches also mark the first time the men’s tennis team play their first match in the new LSU Tennis Complex in 2016.
“It’s pretty exciting because we’ll have a good amount of people, coming out here for the first time to support us,” said junior Justin Butsch.
“A lot more people can come out now, because at the “dub” restricted when it came to seating a bit.”
Before the new LSU Tennis Complex was built in 2015, the men’s team played matches at the W.T. ‘Dub’ Robinson Stadium since 1976.
The ‘Dub’ was named after former LSU tennis coach William Thomas Robinson, who coached the team from 1948-1974.
Even after the few weeks of rest, a doubleheader will provided a challenge for the Tigers’ stamina.
“We always try to focus one match at a time. We’re just worried about playing the first match well, getting the ‘W,’” Butsch said. “Some guys may be tired or not but our team has great depth and a lot of guys who can step up.