BATON ROUGE — For the first time in three weeks the LSU women’s tennis team will compete at home as the Lady Tigers host No. 20 Tennessee at noon in W.T. “Dub” Robinson Tennis Stadium on Sunday.
The LSU marketing department will be on hand as well. The first 100 fans will receive an LSU Water Bottle, and fans will also have chances to win prize packs and Crocs in a trivia contest as well as on-court promotions between doubles and singles play.
LSU (8-5, 3-2 SEC) is looking to rebound after losing back-to-back matches for the first time this season following the 6-1 defeat to No. 6 Georgia on Friday.
Tennessee (10-5, 3-2) lost, 6-1, at the hands of No. 22 Arkansas on Friday.
The Lady Tigers will try to remain undefeated at home against conference foes as LSU is 2-0 with wins over Alabama and Auburn. The match against Auburn on March 2 was the last time LSU played at the “Dub.”
Last season, LSU upset 24th-ranked Tennessee, 5-2, at home. LSU swept doubles against the Volunteers. In singles, the Lady Tigers won four matches to claim the upset victory.
“Tennessee has always been a big rival,” LSU head coach Tony Minnis said. “I expect a tough match against them. It’s an opportunity for us to get back on track after a tough loss.”
Despite the loss at Georgia, the Lady Tigers competed fiercely at doubles, led by juniors Megan Falcon and Mykala Hedberg, who upset Georgia’s 25th-ranked Kelley Hyndman and Yvette Hyndman, 8-2. The Lady Tiger tandem holds a 6-2 record including a 2-0 record against ranked opponents.
LSU will look to start off strong in doubles against the Vols as the Lady Tigers are 6-0 on the season when capturing the doubles point.
After her 6-4, 6-2, win over No. 56 Kelley Hyndman, No. 19 Falcon is now tied with Hannah Robinson for the team lead in overall singles wins with 18 and dual wins with 10.
Tennessee enters the match with one ranked singles player and doubles team. Caitlin Whoriskey, who enters the match with a 13-5 record, is ranked No. 71. In doubles, Whoriskey and Zsofia Zubor are 20-9 on the season and are ranked No. 9.