The No. 12 LSU women’s tennis team looks for a strong non-conference play finish, as it takes on No. 37 Arizona at 3 p.m. tonight at the LSU Tennis Complex.
The Wildcats (8-2) come in as the highest-ranked opponent the Lady Tigers (10-3) have faced at home so far this season, but the quality of tennis will not be anything new for an LSU squad that faced some of the nation’s top 15 teams in the ITA Indoor Championships earlier this season.
The matchup also marks the first time another match will be held on the other side of the stands in the new LSU Tennis Complex as the No. 37 LSU men’s team hosts No. 75 North Florida at 5 p.m.
“We played one other match this season with the men playing at the same time at Rice and it was a battle,” said LSU co-head coach Julia Sell in a press release. “It is very hectic, and we have to make sure we stay focused. It’s also really energizing and we can use that in the right way.”
For the women, the matchup provides a chance to show consistency and improvement. After struggling in doubles play to start the season, the Lady Tigers saw hard work paying off as they claimed the doubles point in their past two matches against University of New Orleans and Tulane.
However, the Wildcats come in with momentum as well. Arizona has won its last five games and will provide a great challenge for LSU’s No. 20 junior Joana Vale Costa, as she prepares to take on Arizona’s No. 54 junior Lauren Marker, who has only suffered one loss this season.
The LSU men’s team, on the other hand, is coming off a two-game win streak after having started the season somewhat shaky.
Their matchup against North Florida will be followed by a doubleheader against Stetson University and Lamar on Sunday.
“We are looking to build off last weekend,” said LSU coach Jeff Brown in a press release. “It’s good to get back on the courts quicker this time after playing with such a long break between our last matches. We’ve got quite a few in a row that are coming up so we are picking up where we left off last weekend and using it to move forward and continue to build our confidence.”
You can reach Markus Hufner on Twitter @Hufner_TDR 

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Wingate Jones

LSU junior Jordan Daigle returning the ball during LSU's victory against Drake on Friday, Feb. 19 2016 at the LSU Tennis Facility