Despite the chance for inclement weather, the LSU men’s tennis team plans to open the 2005 season on Saturday against three Louisiana teams.
No. 12 LSU hosts Southeastern Louisiana University, Centenary and Southern University at the W.T. “Dub” Robinson Tennis Stadium starting at noon.
Coach Jeff Brown said the team is eager to start the season despite the chance of bad weather.
“Between Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Saturday looks like it should be the best day,” Brown said. “They want to play [and] they want to get everything started.”
This will be the Tigers’ first competition since the Southeastern Conference Indoor Championships earlier this month in New Orleans.
LSU earned its first singles championship at the SEC Indoor Championships in 27 years when sophomore Ken Skupski — the 12th-ranked singles player in the nation — defeated Florida’s Greg Ouellette in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2.
“Hopefully, this will be a good start to the year for the whole team,” Skupski said after winning the title.
The Tigers were picked to finish fourth in the SEC last week by league coaches. No. 3 Georgia, No. 4 Florida and No. 6 Ole Miss preceded LSU.
Brown said the SEC is “by far the strongest” conference in the nation.
“You look at the SEC with nine teams in the top-25,” Brown said. “Anybody that knows anything about tennis realizes that if you are fourth in the SEC, it means you have a chance to be in the top-10 [in the country].”
The LSU women’s tennis team looks to build on its early success on Saturday as the Lady Tigers host Southeastern Louisiana and Southern.
The dual-match begins at 9 a.m. at LSU.
No. 23 LSU (2-0) swept Louisiana-Lafayette and Centenary, 7-0, in the season opener last weekend.
Coach Tony Minnis said the team is preparing for Southeastern and Southern like they would a Southeastern Conference foe.
“Southeastern is going to be tough,” Minnis said. “They have a brand new team and some good players.”
This is the 13th consecutive year the Lady Tigers have started a season 2-0 dating back to 1992, when Minnis became the head coach.
Minnis said it is imperative to start the season on the right foot.
“We play one of the toughest schedules in the nation every year,” Minnis said. “It’s very important because you try to build some momentum.”
Minnis compared this year’s team — with four juniors and one senior — to the NFL’s New England Patriots in terms of chemistry.
“Chemistry wise, this has been the best team I’ve had in a long time,” Minnis said. “I see everybody doing everything right. I would love it if we could be anything like the New England Patriots.”