The LSU men’s tennis team travels to Cajun country this weekend to compete in the Ragin’ Cajun Classic in Lafayette, La. The tournament, set to begin today at 8 a.m., is hosted by the University of Louisiana-Lafayette.
Last weekend, the Tigers competed well in Tulane’s Beau Holton Memorial tournament in New Orleans.
Senior Cory Ross and freshman Danny Bryan teamed up for the doubles championship. Ross and Bryan defeated Middle Tennessee State tandem Trevor Short and Kirk Jackson 8-5 in the doubles championship.
Ross had the opportunity to hold both the singles and doubles crowns, as he advanced to the singles finals as well. But Ross fell to David Caundas [of the University of Southern Mississippi] in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2.
Ross comes into the Ragin’ Cajun Classic this weekend as the defending singles champion. Coach Jeff Brown said it is a title Ross plans on defending.
“We have the defending champion from our team,” Brown said. “[Ross is] going down there with the idea of defending that [distinction].”
Brown said the tournament gives the Tigers another opportunity to build team chemistry and enjoy success.
“The field is a lot stronger this year than it was last year,” Brown said. “The whole fall we’ve been going about each tournament trying to get something out of each event, and we have been able to do that.
“The first couple [of tournaments], we got Ken Skupski on the board with some ranked wins. We got Jason Hazley with a ranked win. Cory Ross and Danny Bryan won a doubles tournament. [Ken] Skupski and [Bryan] Fisher got to the semifinals of the regional.”
Brown said the depth on the team this year should play a considerable role in the success the Tigers see. Injuries to Ross, Peter Richman and Sebastian Rutka this fall have only allowed some of the newer players – like Skupski, Bryan and freshman Colt Gaston – to step into the spotlight.
“The depth on this team has improved,” Brown said. “We didn’t lose anybody from last year’s team and we added someone at the top. I think nobody would argue that Ken Skupski is one of our top two players, probably our top player for the most part. And the depth that we’ve added with Colt Gaston and Danny Bryan is going to be important.
“Last year when we had injuries, we were put in a position where somebody who didn’t have a lot of experience had to go in. We’re thinking that one of our most solid positions this year is going to be our number six position and our three doubles [teams].”