To say the LSU men’s tennis team is streaking is a bit understated — catching fire is more appropriate.
LSU began its Southeastern Conference season at 2-3, only to climb out of the SEC cellar with a four-match winning streak over conference opponents, putting LSU within striking distance of capturing the SEC West Championship.
The No. 13 Tigers began climbing back into contention after defeating Mississippi State 6-1, then defeating Auburn and Alabama, 4-3 and 6-1 the next weekend, respectively.
LSU hit a speed bump between conference opponents at No. 27 Tulane, which snapped the Tigers’ 81-match winning streak against in-state opponents.
The Tigers bounced back, defeating No. 24 Arkansas 5-2 this past Friday, en route to their fourth consecutive SEC victory.
“We showed that our priorities are with our SEC matches and that we want to end this season with intensity,” Brown said.
One Tiger finishing the season strong is Sebastian Rutka, who during the four-game streak went undefeated in singles and won all four doubles matches with partner Cory Ross.
“We’ve played so many matches together, we click perfectly,” Rutka said. “We can just feel each other out. I would say now we expect to win every time we come out on the courts.”
Rutka said there had been a collective sense of urgency that brought the Tigers out from their 2-3 SEC start.
“[LSU] Coach [Jeff Brown] addressed that we needed to get pumped up versus Kentucky and also against Auburn and Alabama,” Rutka said. “We came out with added intensity and we played better,” Rutka said.
Rutka said LSU’s 2-3 conference start taught the team an early lesson on the competitiveness of the SEC.
“If you come out flat, you will put yourself in a position where you will probably lose — you have to come out ready to fight,” Rutka said. “It’s been great to get these SEC wins that have been mostly on the road.”
In LSU’s final non-conference match, the Tigers handily defeated Tulsa 6-1, finishing with the momentum Brown had hoped for.
“I think to win four out of five matches on the road against the teams that we played says a lot about our team,” Brown said. “We are excited about coming home now and playing Florida and South Carolina with the SEC still up for grabs.”
Ole Miss, with its late-season slump, has given LSU a glimmer of hope in capturing the SEC West Championship. After starting its SEC season 7-0, the No. 3 Rebels lost their next two SEC matches to South Carolina and Florida, leaving the Rebels one win ahead of LSU.
To win the West, the Tigers need to win their remaining two games and hope Ole Miss loses its final two. Ole Miss beat LSU earlier in the season, giving Ole Miss the tie-breaker.
Peter Richman said his team will be focused on their matches before looking at Ole Miss.
“We have a very good chance of winning the West,” Richman said. “But for us to have a chance, we will have to beat a tough Florida team and a tough South Carolina team. If we take care of our business, we will win.”
Tulsa was LSU’s fifth consecutive opponent on the road. The Tigers will close their regular season this weekend against fellow contenders No. 8 Florida and No. 36 South Carolina.
Richman said the Tigers have other goals beside winning the West.
“We want to win the SEC tournament and win the NCAA Championship,” Richman said. “We’re aiming for the top this year.”