BATON ROUGE — The LSU women’s team will face another tough non-conference opponent as they play host to Florida State on Friday at 3 p.m. CST.
“It is going to be a really big match. I think Florida State is very talented and they have four girls ranked this year which tells you a lot about their depth,” LSU head coach Tony Minnis said. “I expect a very tough match but I am pretty confident because I feel like we have been playing really well over the past couple of weeks.”
This match will provide a great tennis environment as part of a USTA League Days event put on by the LSU marketing department. Fans are encouraged to get there early to receive free LSU tennis trading cards and t-shirts.
Fans will also be allowed to purchase raffle tickets for a chance to win autographed merchandise as well as a tennis ball signed by tennis pros Pete Sampras and Todd Martin and actors Wes Brown and Scott Foley who participated in this past October’s “Duel Under the Oaks” charity event held on LSU’s campus.
The Seminoles currently rank at No 58 by the ITA and have two individual players and two doubles teams in those rankings. Sophomore Ania Ryanarzewska is ranked at No. 52 while senior Nicola Slater is No. 63.
Slater and her partner, freshman Lauren Macfarlane, sit at No. 50 on the doubles list while junior Carolin Walter and senior Miranda Foley are tied for No. 56.
The Lady Tigers enter the match with a record of 5-1, their only loss coming at No. 29 Texas A&M. Of their five wins, four came on the road at San Diego, San Diego St., and back-to-back sweeps at Rice and Houston. Florida St. also owns a 5-1 record with their only loss at No. 16 Georgia.
LSU leads the Seminoles in the series 8-6 winning the last match at Florida State, 5-2.
Lady Tigers sophomore Megan Falcon is ranked at No. 7, ITA released on Tuesday. Falcon and her doubles partner, freshman Hannah Robinson, are ranked No. 11.
“Megan being ranked seven is great. It is a great accomplishment. She hasn’t lost yet this semester and I think like if she plays to her capabilities she can get back higher,” Minnis said.
The Lady Tigers will open SEC play next weekend as they host No. 23 Tennessee on Friday, March 2, at 3 p.m. and No. 16 Georgia on Sunday, March 4, at Noon.