BATON ROUGE — After spending the weekend in Alabama, the 20th-ranked LSU women’s tennis team returns home to square off against Vanderbilt Friday at the W.T. “Dub” Robinson Stadium at 2:15 p.m. CDT. (Note: Time changed due to weather forecast.)
“We’re very excited to try to come back after last weekend. That’s the great thing about the SEC. There are so many quality teams that you get a chance to have opportunities left and right, and this weekend gives us the opportunity to beat two top 25 teams,” said head coach Tony Minnis. “We have to learn from last weekend and get more focused and play as hard as we can.”
LSU (7-4, 0-2 SEC) showcases senior 12th-ranked Megan Falcon who is just 13 matches shy of claiming her 100th-career victory as a Lady Tiger. Falcon advanced her season record to an impressive 22-5 when she defeated Alabama’s No. 82 Tiffany Welcher. With the win, Falcon reached eight victories over nationally ranked opponents. Junior Nicole Kantor ranks second on the team with an 18-8 record, including a 7-3 record in dual play.
In doubles, 17th-ranked Falcon and Mykala Hedberg lead the team as the Lady Tigers’ top duo with a strong 10-match win streak and an outstanding 22-3 record. With their most recent defeat over Alabama’s top pair No. 38 Welcher and Courtney McLane, the Lady Tiger tandem now sports five victories against nationally ranked opponents.
Minnis quickly approaches his 250th-career win as he is 246-186 in his 18-year tenure as LSU head coach.
Vanderbilt (4-2, 1-1 SEC) features three ranked singles players ? 50th-ranked Catherine Newman, 52nd-ranked Jackie Wu and 90th-ranked Keilly Ulery.
The Commodores lead the all-time series against LSU 18-14 following last season’s 7-0 victory over the Lady Tigers in Nashville.