With the fall coming to a close and the winter nearing, the LSU men’s and women tennis teams both concluded their fall seasons this past weekend, with the men traveling to College Station, Texas for the Texas A&M Fall Classic and the women traveling to Peachtree City, Ga., for the SEC Fall Coaches’ Classic.
The men’s team, led by coach Jeff Brown, put forth a stellar effort, losing a total of two matches in its first two days of competition.
In Friday’s hidden dual match against Texas Christian University, the Tigers were 3-0 in doubles and 8-1 in singles matches, even though no team results or statistics were kept.
Strong doubles play continued for LSU in the fall as the Tigers swept the doubles matches from the Horned Frogs.
The No. 1 team of Ken Skupski and Bryan Fisher defeated TCU’s No. 1’s, Jacopo Tessa and Jacob Martin, 8-4.
LSU’s undefeated No. 2 tandem Danny Bryan and Cory Ross notched another victory, defeating Robert Gallman and Andrew Ulrich, 8-3, while Jason Hasley and Colt Gaston downed TCU’s Craig Stopa and Collin Hart, 8-0.
“We competed really well in doubles and that carried over,” Brown said.
It also carried over to Saturday’s matches, as LSU treated their host Texas A&M rudely, once again sweeping the three doubles matches and going 5-1 in singles.
“We played with really good intensity,” Brown said. “It felt like a dual match, and you don’t usually get that feeling in the fall. Individually, in singles and doubles, we played really well.”
LSU’s No. 2 singles player Fisher recorded a big victory, knocking off 99th-ranked Khaled El Dorry, 6-7(6), 7-5, 1-0(5).
The Lady Tigers did not fair as well, as injuries and stiff competition held them back in Georgia.
On Friday, Amanda Mang and Rocio Fantilli both lost their first round matches in Flight A, while Camilia Caliari lost her opener in Flight B.
“We played some good players today,” LSU coach Tony Minnis said after the matches.
On Saturday, LSU picked up a win from Rocio Fantilli, as she dominated Auburn’s Petra Bercik, 6-0, 6-2.
“Rocio played one of the better matches I’ve seen,” Minnis said.
Mang and Caliari were both forced to withdraw due to injury.