NEW ORLEANS – The University of New Orleans women's tennis team (4-0) has had the benefit of their longest break yet in between matches ahead of their match-up with the 19
th-ranked LSU Tigers (8-3) on Wednesday at the LSU Tennis Complex. The match will begin at 7 p.m.
The Privateers last played 11 days ago when they polished off another 7-0 sweep against Alcorn State. So far, New Orleans has not lost a point in their victories over Loyola, Southern, Jackson State, and most recently the Lady Braves.
Last season, the Privateers met up against the Tigers and took a point off at #1 singles in a 6-1 loss. It was the first time the two teams split by a two-hour drive had faced each other in a dual since the 1997 spring season, a match that LSU won by a 6-0 score.
Soledad Calderon Arroyo was responsible for the Privateers point against LSU last season and is off to a solid start this spring. One of two seniors, Calderon has gone 3-0 in singles with two of those matches coming at the #1 position. Calderon has also teamed up with
Anna Segarra Rius for a 2-0 mark in doubles.
"I think we got a good practice session in," said Kanga. "They're playing good tennis and executing well and if they bring their game tomorrow, they'll have a good match. We're playing a nationally ranked LSU team and it will be interesting because it's a night match. This will be a good test for us to see if we're a championship caliber team."
The Tigers have faced a rugged schedule, which featured three straight ranked opponents at one point. LSU went 1-2 against three top 15 teams in Oklahoma State, North Carolina, and Michigan. The Tigers' latest match was a 4-3 loss to South Alabama on Feb. 14. LSU will play Tulane at 3 p.m. earlier in the day before taking on the Privateers.
"We got some matches under our belt and now we go into the next stretch so we have a good week ahead of us," said Kanga. "If we compete well with LSU I think we'll send a very strong message that this is a team to be reckoned with. This is a very talented team and each one has to be accountable for what they're doing."
Individually, the Tigers have two players ranked inside the top 40 in singles. Joana Vale Costa is ranked 25
th in the nation according to the Intercollegiate Tennis Association. Jessica Golovin is 15 spots below in 40
th. Costa is 7-2 in dual play while Golovin has a 5-5 mark.
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