It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always.
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting the historic Edwin Epps’ Plantation gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Epps, LA is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
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“I've been working with Always Best Care for over a year now, and I can honestly say it's been an incredible experience. The support from the office staff is top-notch - they're always available to answer questions, provide guidance, and help with any issues that arise. The clients I've worked with have been wonderful, and I appreciate the care and attention the company puts into matching caregivers with clients who are a good fit. I highly recommend Always Best Care to any caregiver looking for a supportive, flexible, and rewarding work environment. Keep up the great work & thanks so much!”
“Always best senior care is a great company to work with. I've been working with Always best for a little over a year now and I absolutely love it. My clients are so sweet The company is very family oriented They don't just care about the clients they also care about the workers. My daddy was in the hospital and ended up passing away the company allowed me to take off so I could be at the hospital with my daddy, and after he passed away they allowed me to be off rest of the week.”
“Always Best Care is a commendable agency specializing in placing reliable caregivers in the homes of elderly patients. Recently, I engaged their services to find a caregiver for my grandmother, and I couldn't be more satisfied with the outcome. Cyndi Williams from Always Best Care was instrumental throughout the process. Her dependability and understanding made the entire experience smooth and reassuring. From our initial consultation to the caregiver placement, Cyndi and the staff at Always best Care ensured that my grandmother's needs were prioritized, which greatly eased what could have been a challenging transition. Thanks to Always Best Care, my grandmother is not only well cared for but also genuinely happy with her caregiver. This has brought immense relief and peace of mind to our family, knowing that she is in capable hands. Overall, I highly recommend Always Best Care for their professionalism, compassion, and commitment to providing excellent elderly care services. They have truly made a positive difference in our lives during a time of significant adjustment. Claire Breslow”
“We have been very pleased with services from Always Best Care. They are awesome! They are very thorough, punctual, caring and helpful group. Shout out to Cynthia for going the extra mile to facilitate VA help for my step father. If your loved one is in need for in home care I highly recommend this company.”
“Angela Powell is the best! She wears her scrubs, comes right in my mother’s home and gets busy doing whatever my mother needs her to do. She just takes it upon herself to do things that she sees that needs to be done. Angela has a great disposition. I can tell she loves what she does. Our family absolutely loves and appreciates Angela. Thank you to Always Best Care!!!!!”
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“I am a current client of this provider Always Best Care started helping me in July, 2022. My husband needs daily care and we have been more than pleased with the caregivers that they have provided. The Staff is so professional and efficient, yet like family at the same time. Their focus is on their patients and the families. They have made my life so much easier. Highly recommend!!”
“By far the best personality for this job. Plenty of patience and a bubbly attitude. I will definitely be using her again when I’m ready to sell. I highly recommend her.”
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“Current employer I love the staff everyone is very understanding and the clients are nice and you will never find a better place to work and they are very respectful, understanding and caring bosses. They pair you up with clients that matches your personality. I really love working for this company and how they treat their employees.”
“My husband and I will be gone on a 50th anniversary vacation trip for 14 days. During that time our wonderful caregiver has agreed to be “on-call”. We are so grateful for her and there is no way we could take this trip without the peace of mind that her presence gives me! Thank you ABC for the service that your company provides and for the personal touch that you and your sister provide. Marilyn Get Outlook for iOS”
“Summer has always been excited about new homes and it shows in her work. She loves her job because she gets to find the perfect home for her clients. I highly recommend Summer to anyone looking to buy or sell a home.”
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Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Poverty Point Reservoir State Park with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Amazin Cajun Grill or visit Northup Trail, Epps House, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
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While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in Epps, LA, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.
Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.
Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.
For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.
More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.
In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.
With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Epps, LA understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Epps, LA 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.
When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.
RUSTON – Louisiana Tech's Zoie Epps and Ana Rodrigues finished the 2024-25 season ranked in the Division I Women's Tennis Southern Region, as announced by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) on Wednesday.For a third straight year, a Bulldog finished in the top 20 in single...
RUSTON – Louisiana Tech's Zoie Epps and Ana Rodrigues finished the 2024-25 season ranked in the Division I Women's Tennis Southern Region, as announced by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) on Wednesday.
For a third straight year, a Bulldog finished in the top 20 in singles as Zoie Epps capped off arguably the greatest season in program history by being ranked No. 15, the highest of any non-Power 4 player and tied for the highest in school history.
Epps recorded an incredible 37-5 overall singles record, the most wins of any DI women's tennis player this season. She went 12-2 during the fall slate followed by a 25-3 mark in duals while primarily playing at the No. 2 position.
The First Team All-CUSA selection in singles set the single-season program record for most dual victories, breaking the previous mark of 22 set back in 1982. Twenty-four of her 25 wins came via straight sets, maxing out with a 14-match winning streak.
The Norman, Oklahoma native produced a 7-1 mark against CUSA opponents. Two of those league wins came against WKU and Middle Tennessee to help the Bulldogs reach the CUSA Championship match for the first time in program history.
Epps also teamed up with Rodrigues, earning a ranking of ninth in doubles. In doing so, the duo became the first doubles pairing in program history to be regionally ranked. They were also the only non-Power 4 tandem ranked in the top 10.
The duo combined to go 24-11 this past season, starting off with a Round of 16 main draw showing at the ITA Southern Regionals, a first for any Bulldog doubles team.
Epps/Rodrigues, who were named First Team All-CUSA in doubles, would play every match together during the spring slate, going 20-7 at the No. 1 position. The 20 dual victories set a new single-season program record.
The tandem closed out the season on an 11-match winning streak, registering marquee non-conference wins over Memphis and Tulane. They also won seven matches against league foes, including a perfect 3-0 mark in the CUSA Championship with victories over WKU, Middle Tennessee, and FIU.
Regional Rankings consist of the Top 10 team rankings, Top 20 singles rankings, and Top 10 doubles rankings from each region. Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama make up the Southern Region.
SOUTHERN REGIONAL RANKINGS (SINGLES) 1. DJ Bennett (Auburn) 2. Cadence Brace (LSU) 3. Angella Okutoyi (Auburn) 4. Ava Hrastar (Auburn) 5. Petra Sedlackova (Alabama) 6. Kayla Cross (LSU) 7. Merna Refaat (Auburn) 8. Gianna Oboniye (Mississippi State) 9. Emily Welker (Ole Miss) 10. Gaby Rivera (LSU) 11. Lucie Petruzelova (Ole Miss) 12. Anita Sahdiieva (LSU) 13. Tilwith Di Girolami (LSU) 14. Ludmila Kareisova (Ole Miss) 15. Zoie Epps (Louisiana Tech) 16. Ava Esposito (Auburn) 17. Campbell Ricci (Tulane) 18. Chems Doha Zeghlouli (South Alabama) 19. Alice Battesti (Auburn) 20. Maria Martinez Vaquero (Alabama)
SOUTHERN REGIONAL RANKINGS (DOUBLES) 1. Cadence Brace/Kayla Cross (LSU) 2. DJ Bennett/Ava Hrastar (Auburn) 3. Ludmila Kareisova/Anaelle Leclercq-Ficher (Ole Miss) 4. Tilwith Di Girolami/Anita Sahdiieva (LSU) 5. Gianna Oboniye/Athina Pitta (Mississippi State) 6. Margaux Maquet/Petra Sedlackova (Alabama) 7. Angella Okutoyi/Merna Refaat (Auburn) 8. Kenna Erickson/Anita Sahdiieva (LSU) 9. Zoie Epps/Ana Rodrigues (Louisiana Tech) 10. Klara Milicevic/Sara Nayar (Alabama)
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Zoie Epps was a nervous wreck for her first collegiate tennis match.Understandably so. Taking on Wyoming, the defending Mountain West Conference champions. At 17 years of age. Fresh off of rapidly finishing homeschool. And her whole family in attendance.It wasn't the 11-hour match between John Isner and Nicolas Mahut at 2010 Wimbledon. But it was long. And resulted in a 7-6, 5-7, 7-5 loss for the Bulldog newbie....
Zoie Epps was a nervous wreck for her first collegiate tennis match.
Understandably so. Taking on Wyoming, the defending Mountain West Conference champions. At 17 years of age. Fresh off of rapidly finishing homeschool. And her whole family in attendance.
It wasn't the 11-hour match between John Isner and Nicolas Mahut at 2010 Wimbledon. But it was long. And resulted in a 7-6, 5-7, 7-5 loss for the Bulldog newbie.
"My forehand was hitting the back fence," Epps said, embarrassingly. "But, I got through it. Looking back, it was such a cool experience."
The match was played in Tulsa, Oklahoma, an easy two-hour drive from her hometown of Norman. Which is where the story begins of Zoie's path to Louisiana Tech.
The year was 2016 and Amy Sargeant was just hired as an assistant tennis coach at the University of Oklahoma. The Sooners had an after-school tennis club, and who was one of the youngsters in the program … Zoie Epps.
"Zoie and her older sister, Gracie, were the up-and-coming kids out of Norman," recalled Sargeant. "I instantly connected with the Epps family and knew they had tennis in their blood. You build relationships like that and hope that one day you cross paths again."
Sargeant (better known as Sarge) spent four years in Norman before saying goodbye to the Sooners and the Epps family, taking the assistant coach position at Clemson University.
It was not long before they reunited, this time in south Florida at the Orange Bowl International Tennis Championships.
"She came up to me, Gracie, and my mom and gave us the biggest hugs. She was like, 'Hello babe, I missed y'all,'" said Zoie in her best Sarge voice, which was with a British accent.
"Right then, I told my mom that I wanted to player for her. She was my dream coach. I always had a type of coach in my head that I wanted to play for in college and it matched hers. But I knew I couldn't go to Clemson. I was not at that level."
Little did Zoie know that while her college recruiting was picking up, Sargeant was on the verge of being named the head coach at Louisiana Tech University.
"Zoie's mom Summer was my first phone call [when I got the job]," said Sargeant. "I asked if Zoie was going to college this year and she said, 'next year.' I asked if there was any chance she could graduate early because I wanted her to come play for me."
Sargeant was set to inherit a successful, experienced roster. The only problem … there were just five of them. She needed one more player for a full squad. And she had little time to find one.
"It was only a month before school, so it was like who do you know because I did not have much time to find someone," Sargeant added. "Needing that sixth player, I wanted to go for someone that I knew what I was going to get. That is why I thought of Zoie."
At the time, Zoie was about to commit to another school for the 2024-25 season before getting a phone call from Sargeant offering her a scholarship. She came on a visit to LA Tech a month later. And then the other school immediately left her head, committing to the Bulldogs.
Now all she had to do was finish school. And fast.
"It was the most stressful thing," remembered Zoie. "I thought I still had six more months and another chapter of life before college. I ended up taking an eight-week course in two weeks. I was freaking out. I was just trying to get done with school because the quarter started in December.
"It was stressful for my mom as well because she was not prepared for me to leave. It was overwhelming, having to say goodbye superfast, but it was a great opportunity for me to take."
Zoie graduated. And was thrown into the lineup, and into the fire, immediately.
"I felt like she was a bit like a Tasmanian devil," said Sargeant.
"It was so rocky," described Zoie.
Her freshman season was up-and-down, going 5-7 in singles through the first half of the slate. Things seemed to click though during spring break when the team went west to play at UTEP and New Mexico State, followed by another leg of the trip to California to take on Cal State Northridge.
Zoie would win all three singles matches, and convincingly. 6-0, 6-4. 7-5, 6-1. 6-2, 6-2.
"She really started to find her feet," said Sargeant, enthusiastically. "She had a WTA backhand and an unbelievable serve. She could transition. And her biggest weapon became her forehand slice because her opponents didn't really know what to do with it. I think that trip was the turning point for Zoie."
Playing mostly at the No. 5 position, Zoie would win six of her last eight singles matches. Plus, she teamed up late with Alexia Romero to win her last four doubles matches, including victories over Kansas State and Wichita State. She would earn Second Team All-Conference USA honors (doubles) and was named to the CUSA All-Freshman Team.
After being the baby of the Bulldog family for four months, Zoie was now suddenly one of the veterans as the roster welcomed in five newcomers.
Now she was a team captain. At 18 years of age. Playing up in the lineup at the No. 2 position.
"One thing about Zoie, she is always going to do what is right for the team and the program," said Sargeant, confidently. "She knew there were some big shoes to fill and that was part of the challenge I gave her. I was not hesitant in giving her the captaincy badge in year two. She had to mature quicker and did not disappoint."
What followed was the greatest individual season in LA Tech Tennis history. Bar none.
It started in the fall when she went 12-2 in singles, highlighted by two flight titles and advancing to the main draw of the ITA Southern Regionals before narrowly losing in three sets to the eventual champion from Auburn.
The 12 fall wins was the most ever by a Bulldog (program record No. 1 … check).
As if that was not impressive enough, here is what all she did in the spring.
The accolades included:
Combine the dual season with the fall tournaments and Zoie went 37-5 in singles matches. After extensive research, it was discovered that she recorded the most singles wins of any Division I women's tennis player in the country for the 2024-25 season.
Zoie's response when she heard the news …
"You're joking!? No way. That is crazy! OMG."
(Fun fact – the 37 wins also tied for the most by any Division I men's tennis player)
Not only was she unaware of that. She admitted to being unaware to a lot of the things she accomplished.
"I never really kept up with my record," said Zoie. "The things that are posted on Instagram is what I see. I know I did well and am proud of myself. During the season, I was just so focused on trying to win my match to help our team win. It never crossed my mind that I could break school records."
Even coach Sargeant admitted to being surprised by Zoie's skyrocket-ness.
"Does it surprise me that she has achieved these records … yes, but she worked for it," added Sargeant. "It has been pure hard work. She has broken the barrier. Her game is still developing. The next step is not thinking about what she just did but about what can she do moving forward. I am very proud of her and am thankful that we crossed paths in Norman."
To sum it up once more, Zoie went from an anxious 17-year-old with a shaky forehand to a fiery team captain who shattered the record books all in the span of 16 months.
Not bad, Zoie Epps. What's next?
"Get more wins."
RUSTON – Louisiana Tech's Zoie Epps was named to the 2025 Academic All-District Women's Tennis team, as announced by College Sports Communicators which recognizes the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the court and in the classroom.Epps, a sophomore from Norman, Oklahoma, owns a 3.73 cumulative grade point average while majoring in Exercise and Health Promotion....
RUSTON – Louisiana Tech's Zoie Epps was named to the 2025 Academic All-District Women's Tennis team, as announced by College Sports Communicators which recognizes the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the court and in the classroom.
Epps, a sophomore from Norman, Oklahoma, owns a 3.73 cumulative grade point average while majoring in Exercise and Health Promotion.
On the court this past season, Epps earned First Team All-Conference USA honors in both singles and doubles. The Bulldog broke a 43-year-old program record for most dual singles victories, putting together a 25-3 mark while going 2-0 at No. 1, 21-3 at No. 2, and 2-0 at No. 3.
Along with doubles partner Ana Rodrigues, she was a staple at the No. 1 position, going 20-7 which set a new program record for most doubles wins in a single season.
Epps was selected as a CSC Academic All-America finalist and will advance to the national ballot to be voted on by CSC members. First-, second- and third-team Academic All-America honorees will be announced June 3, 2025.
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