The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

THE Albany resort hosted elite collegiate talent on the tennis courts for the first in two weekends of United States Tennis Association sanctioned events.

The LSU Tigers, North Carolina State Wolfpack and University of South Florida Bulls women's tennis programmes each opened their seasons at the USTA Bahamas College Invitational last weekend.

LSU finished with the top record overall at 26-8 over the course the tournament. They went 11-1 in doubles play and 15-7 in singles.

The Wolfpack tallied a record of 25-14, including an 18-9 singles record and 7-5 doubles record.

Four Bulls players picked up singles wins at the tournament, including two ranked wins.

The Tigers, out of the SEC, return off a 15-11 season, including a trip to the NCAA Tournament, where they lost in the first round to No. 24 Tulsa.

LSU's doubles team, defending national champions Eden Richardson and Jessica Golovin, are ranked No. 7 in the Oracle ITA Preseason Rankings.

The ACC's Wolfpack ended the season ranked No. 34 in the Oracle/ITA team rankings released on May 23.

Posting a 17-15 (7-7 ACC) record, NC State earned selection to the NCAA Championship for the third-straight year in 2018.

The Bulls, out of the American Athletic Conference, finished 12-10 last season.

In 2017-18, South Florida went on a nine-match win streak - the Bulls did not lose a match in March. This weekend, September 21-23, Albany will welcome a trio of men's tennis programmes from the ACC, Big 10 and SEC.

The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets were originally intended to make the trip to the Bahamas in 2017 at the inaugural Albany Bahamas Invitational. However, those plans were cancelled due to Hurricane Maria.

This year, the Yellow Jackets, from the ACC, will travel to Albany to face the Michigan Wolverines and Auburn Tigers.