The LSU women’s tennis team won with ease last weekend in their doubleheader against Centenary and Louisiana Tech, but this weekend the women face a three-match challenge. Southern and the University of Louisiana-Monroe visits W.T. “Dub” Robinson Tennis Stadium Saturday, then Florida State will be on hand Sunday to face LSU.
“We really need to go out there Saturday and take care of business,” said sophomore Amanda Lang. “Because every extra minute we spend on the court Saturday will take away from us on Sunday.”
LSU lost to FSU last year and looks to avenge that loss. LSU’s team was much different last year. This year’s team features five new players with only four returning on the roster.
“This year is totally new,” Mang said. “We only have two girls that came back. The girls on this year’s team are a lot more focused and hungry to win.”
FSU is expected to be the toughest match of the weekend, but LSU has always played them close. Even with a new team and new talent, LSU head coach Tony Minnis still sees a big challenge for his team on Sunday.
“Florida State is going to be a really tough match,” said Minnis. “The last three years it has been 4-3 every time.”
This weekend is the only tripleheader scheduled this season for the Lady Tigers’ tennis team. Minnis said scheduling tripleheaders early in the season helps prepare his team for the big tournaments at the end of the season.
“To win the SEC tournament and to make the final the four, we have to be able to win three consecutive matches,” Minnis said.