A lengthy weather delay did nothing to slow down the LSU women’s tennis team on Saturday.
     The Lady Tigers stormed through Southeastern Louisiana University, 7-0, and Southern University, 6-0, at W.T. “Dub” Robinson Tennis Stadium.
     The matches were scheduled at 9 a.m., but wet courts prevented the teams from starting the match until 2 p.m.
     “These girls have played their whole lives in tournaments in situations like this,” coach Tony Minnis said. “They’re used to it.”
     Scoring in college tennis is done on a best-of-seven basis. Three doubles teams compete for one point, and six singles matches determine the remainder of the points. The team to win four points wins the match.
     No. 23 LSU (4-0 on the season) jumped out to a 1-0 lead against Southeastern, sweeping the doubles matches.
     Marina Chiarelli and Camila Caliari defeated Maja Bradojic and Bonnie Philips 8-0. Amanda Mang and Staten Spencer clinched the point for LSU by defeating Zdenka Puflerova and Jana Simurkova 8-2.
     LSU’s Anastasiya Dubova and Tiffany Tucker gave the Lady Tigers a 3-0 lead by defeating Bradojic and Philips, respectively.
     Lauren Seaman clinched the match for LSU, defeating Simurkova 6-1, 6-1.
     Minnis said despite the lopsided result, Southeastern challenged LSU.
     “Southeastern came and played with a lot of intensity and fire,” Minnis said. “I thought they played well.”
     In the second match against Southern, doubles play was cancelled due to threatening weather.
     But the Lady Tigers made quick work of Southern in singles play. Caliari defeated Jennifer Boyd 6-0, 6-0; Spencer beat Isoke Eriksson-Perry 6-4, 6-0; Seaman defeated Kelli Nabors 6-2, 6-2; and Daysi Espinal clinched the match with a 6-1, 6-1 upending of Sarah Johnson.
     The victories extended LSU’s winning streak against in-state opponents to four games and ended LSU’s four-game home stand.
     LSU hits the road next weekend to compete against Houston and Rice in Houston.
     “I’m just glad we got the win over [Southeastern] and Southern,” Minnis said. “I’m looking forward to Houston and Rice.”
The same weather delay which pushed back the women’s game had the same effect on the LSU men’s tennis team — none.
     No. 12 LSU made quick worth of its triple-header on Saturday, defeating Southeastern Louisiana 6-1, Centenary 6-0 and Southern 6-0.
     Coach Jeff Brown said it was good to get through the day and complete the matches.
     “It took a lot of patience for the players and the fans and staff,” Brown said. “To get three wins made it worth it.”
     Jason Hazley — the 87th-ranked singles player in the nation — clinched LSU’s victory against Southeastern with a 6-2, 6-1 performance against Julian Lousao.
     Peter Richman and Colt Gaston finished and won prior to Hazley, giving LSU a 3-0 lead.
     The Tigers won the doubles point to take a 1-0 lead thanks to a pair of nationally-ranked doubles teams. No. 13 Ken Skupski and Mark Growcott defeated Haris Huremovic and Oliver Nussbaum, 8-2. No. 34 Jason Hazley and Danny Bryan overwhelmed Ondrej Krivka and Jaroslav Trojan 8-6.
     Doubles matches were not played against Centenary and Southern, but it took LSU a little over an hour to dismantle both opponents.
     Every player on the roster saw action on Saturday with three players — William LeFevre, Jonathon Tragardh and Martel Campbell — picking up their first career victories.
     Brown said it was a successful start to the season for the Tigers.
     “It was good to see some of the new guys on the court, and to see the old ones get going,” Brown said.
     LSU’s season continues Thursday when the Tigers travel to New Orleans to play UNO.