Spotlight on Former Athlete: Dianne Lowings – Women’s Tennis 1984-87

Lowings feels at home in south Louisiana

Dianne Lowings came a long way to play tennis for UL’s Ragin’ Cajun women in the 1980’s, went a long way away to improve her game, then came full circle to Lafayette once more to make a living in the sport.
The South African arrived in 1985 and promptly helped the Cajuns to the 1986 Southland Conference women’s championship, capturing both singles and doubles titles.
Playing No. 1 for coach Linda Tuero’s 15-6 team, Lowings was 19-7 in singles and 18-5 in doubles.
Although the team slipped to 11-13 in 1987, Lowings was even better. She compiled a near-perfect 23-2 mark in singles and was 15-5 in doubles.
“Linda Tuero was recruiting a friend of mine in South Africa, and the friend said that they were looking for players and that I should come over to the States,” Lowings said. “So, I called.
“Eventually I brought some friends with me. It led to other South Africans coming here.”
Lowings had played in the Orange Bowl and other tournaments as a junior standout, but she was still a long way from home.
She went even further away the next year, transferring to U.S. International in San Diego to challenge herself with stronger competition.
“Some of the teams we played (at UL) were tough,” Lowings said, “but others couldn’t field a complete team. U.S. International was a Top 25 program and played a good schedule.”
Lowings redshirted one year, then finished her collegiate career on the West Coast.
But South Louisiana had seeped into her veins, and she returned to UL to earn a graduate degree in education.
“I came back, so obviously Ioved it here,” said Lowings, the director of tennis at Red Lerille’s. “I enjoy the teaching aspect of it. I taught on the side back in South Africa. I would have loved to have gone into physical therapy, but it wasn’t offered at the time.
“In teaching, I enjoy when the person you’re working with finally gets it. I have a passion for the game and love to put it forth, love to teach it. I like to see improvement with a client, that time when they’ve actually got it.”
After 3 years in San Diego, Lowings worked on the staff of former Cajun men’s star Paul Griffith at Oakbourne Country Club while in graduate school and also helped as a graduate assistant with the UL program.
Next came the chance to join ex-UL All-American Ashley Rhoney at Red’s, and Lowings has been at that landmark health club for 21 years.
“I love my job, and I’ll keep doing it as long as my body holds out,” she said. “Every hour is a different hour. I work with such a wide variety of people.”
In her playing days, Lowings was known for both power and finesse.
“My forehand was my weapon, and I had a big serve,” Lowings said. “And, I could volley. I was a good doubles player. I loved doubles.
“Doubles is not stressed in the States. We were a lot more doubles oriented. It’s the way you play. When you entered a tournament, you entered three divisions – singles, doubles and mixed doubles.
“When I was growing up, you played all day. When we won conference, it came down to the doubles.”
A card-carrying member of Old School tennis, Lowings misses the old format for college matches of 6 singles and 3 doubles matches – in that order, and with each match counting the same. Many 2-4 singles deficits could be reversed with a 3-0 sweep of doubles, resulting in a 5-4 dual match victory.
“I remember a great (men’s) match, when Ashley and Bret Garnett were No. 1, going against Tennessee,” Lowings said.
Equipment has also changed greatly, with racquets altering strategy and widening the field of participants.
“When I grew up, we sliced and came in a lot,” Lowings said. “Now, the racquets are lighter, the sweet spot is bigger and the strings are different. You can put more spin on the ball. You can hit harder and stay back. Now, the only time players come to the net is to shake hands.
“A lot of players want to hit the ball hard. Technology helps ladies stay in a match. Half of them would not be able to play with a wood racquet. Lightness does a lot for you.”
Still, Lowings misses a bygone part of the game.
“I like craftiness, thinking through the match,” she said. “The art of tennis has been taken away.”
Lowings will long remember the artistry it took for her to defeat LSU’s No. 1 player in dual match play, as well as facing the LSU twin tandem of Dee Ann and Dana Dee Watlington. Matches with Tulane were also intense events.
But Cajun fans might never have heard of Lowings if she had continued an early athletic path.
“Field hockey was my first love,” she said. “It was a school sport, and my family all played. My aunt captained the South African team. It’s like soccer, 11 on a side, except that it’s played with a ball and a stick. It’s a little bit like lacrosse.
“The team aspect was nice, too.”
Tennis was Lowings’ ticket to South Louisiana, and she has remained glad of her choice to make a phone call nearly 30 years ago.
“Lafayette is such a friendly town,” she said. “I love living here.”

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ictured Pictured above is Dianne and 1987 Women’s Tennis Team. 

 
Pictured above are Sherry Richard Lebas, Dianne Lowings, Meg Scopes Cook, Madelyn Boustany Juneau, and Milou Israel at the 2013 Tennis Reunion.

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Our rich athletic traditions were entrusted to the vision, hope, loyalty, and dedication of those former athletes and we will forever owe them a debt of sincere gratitude. May God bless each of them and their families.