The No. 21 LSU women’s tennis team opened both its 2016 season and new tennis complex on Saturday with a doubleheader sweep against Nicholls State University and Southern University.
The doubleheader started with a sweep in doubles against Nicholls State. The LSU duo of No. 23 junior Joana Vale Costa and sophomore Ryann Foster defeated the Colonels’ senior Isla Brock and junior Stephanie Barnett on Court 1, 6-2, while Tiger senior Skylar Kuykendall and junior Abby Owens swept freshman Julia Melendez and sophomore Milou Pietersz, 6-0.
“Overall, I thought they did really well,” coach Julia Sell said. “In the morning match I thought we had some nerves but we worked through them. We were a little passive in our play earlier, but we came out and adjusted really nicely in the afternoon.”
Doubles play against Southern University lasted for only 20 minutes as the Lady Tigers justified their No. 21 preseason ranking.
Despite the Lady Tigers’ dominance, nervousness remained in a few players’ mindset.
Before breaking away in the second set, Owens kept her first set close and battled for a 6-4 win.
“I thought it started in doubles,” Sell said. “She was probably the most nervous of our girls today. She was a little passive with her feet and wasn’t quite getting set. She plays a very dominant style of play where you got to have your feet set otherwise you’re going to spread the ball a little bit.”
Sophomore Ryann Foster, on the other hand, remained calm. The transfer did not allow Southern University’s senior Kendall Bunch a single point and swept the Jaguar, 6-0 and 6-0.
“I think I really found my groove in doubles and then I came out serving pretty solid,” Ryann Foster. “I think I was just in a zone from there on out. Playing under the lights – I really love that so I think it added to the feeling I had.”
The matches also marked No. 52 freshman Jessica Golovin’s first time in LSU wearing the Lady Tigers uniform.
The New York native went undefeated in both matches, finishing singles against Nicholls State University, 6-1 and 6-4, and 6-4 and 6-4 against Southern University.
“She did really well,” Sell said. “I thought she was pretty fearless. A lot of times freshmen come in and get a little tense and nervous in those matches, but she’s such a competitor and goes out and competes. She handled it about as well as any freshman could.” 
With ITA Kickoff Weekend around the corner, Sell left the facility satisfied and happy with her players’ performance.
“I think it’s a perfect way to start. Everybody got at least three matches, some of them got four,” Sell said. “No matter how much we practice, there is no substitute for tournament play.”
You can reach Markus Hufner on Twitter @Hufner_TDR