HOUSTON — The LSU Women’s Tennis team will play its first matches of the fall season Friday at the Rice University Tennis Classic.
The Lady Tigers, who finished 12-13 last spring and went to the NCAA Tournament for the ninth consecutive year, are one of eight teams in the bracket.
“We are excited to get the fall season underway,” said LSU head coach Tony Minnis. “The girls have been working really hard this year. I’ve seen a big improvement, not only from last spring, but from this summer also.”
Sophomores Daysi Espinal and Marina Chiarelli will lead the Lady Tigers tomorrow with first round matches at 12:30 p.m. in the Blue singles bracket. Espinal, who was 17-14 in 2003, plays Rice’s Tracie Chong. Chiarelli will play Rice’s Lauren Archer. Chiarelli was 20-14 last season.
Neither senior Rocio Fantilli nor junior Amanda Mang will play this weekend, Minnis said. Fantilli was ranked No. 99 in the ITA preseason poll, and was No. 38 in doubles with partner Lauren Seaman.
Seaman and Chiarelli will pair up instead Friday in an 8:30 a.m. match against a duo from Lee College. Espianal and Camila Caliari take on Rice’s Archer and Chao in the same bracket.