BATON ROUGE — The 19th-ranked LSU men’s tennis team returns to play at W.T. “Dub” Robinson Tennis Stadium Friday afternoon when it hosts South Carolina for a 2 p.m. match.
The Tigers (9-6, 2-4 SEC) look to end a two match skid as they enter the back end of Southeastern Conference play. Last weekend, LSU fell to third-ranked Georgia on Friday at home, 4-2, and at 10th-ranked Tennessee, 6-1.
After winning seven of their first eight matches, the Gamecocks (8-8, 0-6 SEC) have only won one of their last eight matches and are in search of their first conference victory. Head coach Kent DeMars is in his 24th year of leading the Gamecocks.
The two teams met in Columbia, S.C., last season where the Tigers captured a quick 4-0 sweep. The Tigers lead the all-time series against the Gamecocks with a 20-7 record.
“They are a very capable team that is close to getting its first conference win,” LSU head coach Jeff Brown said. “They will be extremely eager and ready to play. I have a lot of respect for coach DeMars and the group that he brings in.”
LSU is currently fourth in the SEC West with a 2-4 record behind Ole Miss (4-2), Alabama (4-2) and Auburn (3-3). South Carolina is in sixth place in the east division.
LSU hopes to continue its stretch of strong doubles play. The Tigers have won the early point in 11 of their 15 matches this season, including in seven of their last eight.
LSU’s top doubles duo of James Cluskey and Michael Venus own a 10-3 record this season and has captured wins against three ranked teams.
Four Tigers have compiled 15 or more wins this season, including two freshmen. Freshman Sebastian Carlsson leads the team with 20 wins. Freshman Julien Gauthier has compiled 15 wins.
Seniors Jan Zelezny and Kevin Dessauer have compiled 19 and 16, respectfully, this season. Dessauer leads the team with 11 victories in dual play.