The LSU men’s and women’s tennis teams continued preparations on Thursday for their matches this weekend.
The Lady Tigers, coming off a sweep of Louisiana Tech and Southern University on Wednesday, will look to improve to 5-0 on the season.
The Purdue women, ranked No. 41, will begin their road trip at No. 10 Tennessee. The Lady Boilermakers are coming of a 7-0 win over Miami of Ohio.
“It’s going to be tough,” LSU coach Tony Minnis said. “They’re a very good team.”
The Lady Tigers fell to Purdue for the first time last season. LSU leads the all-time series 3-1.
“Last year was a definite advantage for them, playing indoors,” Minnis said. “Hopefully it will be a big advantage for us playing outdoors.”
The Lady Tigers will look to better their performance against Purdue from last April. LSU fell to the Lady Boilermakers 5-2.
“I’m very excited about it,” said senior Jessica Ferguson. “It’s our first real dual match and I’m looking forward to it.”
Ferguson won both of her singles matches on Wednesday against Tech and Southern.
Minnis said he has seen a significant difference between this year’s team from last year.
“I’m really impressed with how this team has matured over a year,” Minnis said. “We just have to be ready to play.”
Junior Amanda Mang said she is looking to rebound from last year’s loss.
“They beat us last year, but they’re mainly an indoor team,” said Mang. “I think down here, we have the same team, but a whole year older.”
Mang has been paired with senior Rocio Fantilli, following the Michigan Invitational.
“[Fantilli] probably has the most experience of any doubles player,” Mang said. “She’s teaching me a lot.”
Mang and Fantilli are coming off a win against Tech’s Holly Ready and Monica Kelly, 8-2.
Against Southern, Mang was paired with sophomore Daysi Espinal. The duo beat Franciscia Osedumme and Kelli Nabors, 8-1.
Senior Bonnie White, who has yet to compete this season due to an arm injury, said she is confident about playing Purdue in Baton Rouge.
White is hoping to return to the court within the next few weeks.
The Lady Tigers will begin Southeastern Conference play Feb. 22 at No. 1 Florida.
“They’re a solid team,” White said. “It will be a good test to see how we are and make sure everybody’s where they need to be for the SEC.”
The LSU men’s team will take on Southern Mississippi and Southern University on Sunday.
LSU recently moved up two spots to No. 17 in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association poll.
The Tigers are coming off the SEC Indoor Championship tournament, in which Bryan Fisher and Jason Hazley made it to the semifinals before losing to No. 25 Catalin Gard and Paul Ciorascu of Ole Miss.
Fisher and Hazley managed to defeat the No. 5 ranked duo of Georgia’s Bo Hodge and John Isner, 5-2. It was the highest ranked doubles team that Fisher and Hazley had defeated.
LSU currently has one singles player and two doubles teams ranked. The LSU men will open SEC play on March 5 with Georgia coming to town.