NEWPORT, R.I. — The LSU women’s tennis team will begin the 2017-18 campaign at the International Tennis Hall of Fame competing in the ITA Grass Court Invitational on Friday.
As the only collegiate grass court tournament of the year, the second-annual Hall of Fame Invitational is a prestigious event featuring some of the top tennis programs in the country.
In addition to LSU, the University of Florida, the University of North Carolina and Princeton University will send representatives from their women’s tennis programs to compete while the men’s side of the tournament will feature Georgia, TCU, Illinois and Columbia.
Senior captain Ryann Foster, fresh off a team-leading 27-win campaign last season, will lead the Tigers in Newport, joined by teammates Kennan Johnson, Jessica Golovin and newcomer Eden Richardson.
Further down the East Coast, freshman Elyse Lavender will represent LSU in the Duke James Bonk Invite in Cary, N.C.
Lavender will open her Tiger career with a matchup against No. 54 Samantha Harris of Duke in the quarterfinal round.
The freshmen are eager to get their respective collegiate careers off to a fast start representing the Tigers this weekend in their first real test against some distinguished competition.
“I’m so excited to get started,” Richardson said. “I’ve been training really hard and I’m ready to see how much I’ve improved and see the competition of the other colleges as well.”
“I think these two are going to have a large, immediate impact,” co-head coach Julia Sell said. “They were already really solid players coming in, they’re both hard workers and they’re already showing that they’re able to come in and compete with the best.”
For more information on the LSU women’s tennis program follow the Lady Tigers on Twitter @lsuwten and @LSUJuliaSell, on Instagram @LSUWTen and on www.Facebook.com/lsuwten.
Hall of Fame ITA Grass Court Invitational
Friday, September 15
Singles
Ryann Foster (LSU) vs. No. 12 Josie Kuhlman (UF)
Jessica Golovin (LSU) vs. No. 15 Anna Danilina (UF)
Kennan Johnson (LSU) vs. Alle Sanford (UNC)
Eden Richardson (LSU) vs. Katie Kubicz (UF)
Doubles
Ryann Foster/Jessica Golovin (LSU) vs. No. 50 Anna Danilina/Josie Kuhlman (UF)
Kennan Johnson/Eden Richardson (LSU) vs. Gaby Pollner/Katrine Steffensen (Princeton)
Duke James Bonk Invite
Friday, September 15 (Quarterfinals)
Elyse Lavender (LSU) vs. No. 54 Samantha Harris (Duke) at 2 p.m. CT