The LSU women’s tennis team is on the bubble.
When the 2003 NCAA Women’s Tennis Tournament field of 64 is set next Wednesday, April 30, the Lady Tigers hope their name is called.
“I think we can be a very dangerous team in the tournament,” said coach Tony Minnis. “But right now we’re just going to kick back and relax a little bit.”
Minnis gave the team an off week to mend a team walking wounded right now.
“We’ve got some players injured,” Minnis said. “So we’re going to take this next week just to recuperate.
“Rocio [Fantilli] has got some tendinitis in her shoulder,” Minnis continued. “She’s been just playing through it the whole last month. Daysi [Espinal has] got instability in her shoulders, so she’s been pretty banged up. Marina [Chiarelli’s] back has been bothering her. Amanda [Mang] has had a muscle problem in her arm pretty much the last two and a half months.”
Despite injuries, LSU (12-12) exploded during the latter stretch of the season, winning four of its last six matches. The Lady Tigers last loss came in the first round of the Southeastern Conference Tournament to No. 49 Ole Miss (8-14).
Other losses that may hurt the Lady Tigers chance at making the NCAA Tournament include defeats to No. 45 Purdue (12-10), No. 42 South Carolina (13-10), No. 41 Tulsa (13-10) and No. 51 Florida State (13-10).
LSU plays one of the toughest schedules in the nation, according to Minnis.
In that tough schedule, the Lady Tigers lost to six teams ranked in the top 20 in the nation. All six teams — No. 10 Kentucky, No. 12 Vanderbilt, No. 7 Georgia, No. 8 Tennessee, No. 2 Florida and No. 20 Alabama — are SEC foes.
The Lady Tigers recorded two victories late in the season that may help LSU’s postseason fate. LSU upended No. 43 Ohio State (12-10) and No. 29 Tulane (18-4) during the Lady Tigers late-season hot streak.
Minnis knows the fate of the Lady Tigers lies in these quality victories.
“I think [making the NCAA tournament] depends on the way Ohio State does [in the Big 10 tournament],” he said. “We have a win over them, so if they do really well it helps us a lot.”
Minnis said making the NCAA Tournament is a goal the team set at the beginning of the season, and it is a goal he has witnessed LSU work toward.
“I think these players have really matured a lot since the beginning of the season,” Minnis said. “[They matured] as far as understanding what it takes from a mental toughness standpoint to compete against the type of schedule we play.”