Returning all eight players from last spring’s team, the LSU women’s tennis team continues to gain speed heading into next season.
Play started this past weekend at the Rice Tennis Classic in Houston. The Lady Tigers picked up some key victories, led by sophomore Camila Caliari.
Caliari won the gray singles bracket with a come-from-behind 3-6, 6-4, 7-6, triumph against Karen Chao of Rice. Caliari also picked up another victory in doubles play with teammate Daysi Espinal to cap the weekend.
“I’m very proud of Camila,” said coach Tony Minnis in a press release. “She was down in the third set and fought back for a win. It’s really good that she won a tournament in this point of the season. It will give her some confidence.”
Several other Lady Tigers picked up victories at the Rice Classic. Sophomore Lauren Seaman won the consolation match of the gray singles bracket, defeating Yale’s Ashley Martin in straight sets, 6-3, 7-5.
Seaman then teamed up with Marina Chiarelli to defeat Tasja Fuhrig and Chantal Lessar of the University of Texas-San Antonio 8-1.
Assistant coach Sandy Sureephong said the team is using the fall to get into shape so they can finish matches stronger next spring.
“They’re working really hard on their conditioning,” Sureephong said at practice Monday. “We have the same team back. That’s a good thing because they know what to expect from each other. There’s no reason for not knowing how tough competition is now.”
The next competition for LSU is the Hoosier Classic Invitational held in Bloomington, Ind. on Oct. 3. Sureephong said the team should use their experience and chemistry to succeed this season.
“I feel like they want to win the [Southeastern Conference western division] for sure,” Sureephong said. “A lot of the other teams are losing a lot of seniors. We really want to capitalize on that.”