When it comes to succeeding on the court, senior Rocio Fantilli and sophomore Lauren Seaman use their off-court relationship to their advantage.
“We know each other very well,” Fantilli said. “It helps that we know how we’re each going to react.”
Fantilli and Seaman, who are roommates, have been competing together off and on for the last year-and-a-half.
Currently ranked No. 34 in the nation, the duo said that good chemistry off the court can translate to good chemistry on the court.
“I think that on the court we have a good connection,” Seaman said. “I’d say that we’re pretty close.”
Seaman, a Metarie native, first started playing tennis at the age of 6. Coming to LSU as the No. 1 ranked singles player in the state, Seaman also received letters in both soccer and cross country at Metairie Park Country Day School.
Seaman enjoys keeping up with professional tennis, especially Serena Williams.
“She’s a flashy player,” Seaman said. “Nobody else likes her, but I do.”
As a freshman at LSU, Seaman compiled a 7-6 overall record. With a 4-4 record in the Southeastern Conference, Seaman held the best conference record of any Lady Tiger.
Fantilli, who comes from Argentina, picked up her first tennis racket at the age of 5.
Fantilli began taking lessons when she was 7.
As a senior at J.B. Alberti High School in Puerto Madryn, Fantilli completed her high school career as the No. 2 ranked singles player in the Argentinean national rankings.
Fantilli was encouraged to attend LSU by former player Bruna Colosio, who informed Fantilli that LSU coach Tony Minnis was looking for another player.
As a freshman, Fantilli and Colosio finished the year with a No. 27 ranking, recording an 18-4 overall doubles record.
As a sophomore, Colosio and Fantilli continued to thrive in doubles play, finishing the year at No. 25 in the nation.
Fantilli began her doubles team with Seaman during her junior year.
Finishing the year 11-10, Fantilli and Seaman had their biggest win yet against the No. 1 ranked duo of Vanderbilt’s Aleke Schellhas and Sarah Riske. Fantilli and Seaman finished the year ranked No. 6 in doubles in the Southwest Region.
This past fall, Fantilli and Seaman entered the season ranked No. 38 in the International Tennis Association’s poll. Finishing the season with a 5-3 record, the duo reached the finals of the Southwest Regional Championship.
Fantilli and Seaman entered the Spring 2004 season with a loss at the Michigan Invitational to Kelly Anderson and Sekita Grant.
The duo has not competed together since, although they said its just a matter of experimenting.
“We don’t know if we’ll spend the whole season together or not,” Fantilli said. “It’s just a coach’s decision.”
As a senior, Fantilli said experience is a major factor with the success of a team.
Last season, the LSU team featured four freshmen, one of which was Seaman.
“You don’t know what to expect,” Fantilli said. “These people had never played in the SEC conference. Now, everybody knows how hard it is and how hard you have to work to compete.”
As a doubles team, Fantilli said experience is important as well.
“You can be good friends off the court, but it’s not the same on the court,” Fantilli said. “You just have to play matches and get to know your partner.”
Seaman said that being friends off the court can help as well.
“I think that’s one of the advantages we have, playing together,” Seaman said.
With SEC play just around the corner, the duo is looking to pay back some opponents from last year. Fantilli and Seaman said they’re especially looking forward to playing Ole Miss.
The Lady Tigers were knocked out of the SEC tournament last year on a controversial call made by an Ole Miss player.
“We hate Ole Miss,” Fantilli said. “We have to beat them.”
With a good relationship on the court, Fantilli and Seaman will look to match their success of last season, and being good friends can only help.