State will host 11 matches at the A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre in 2018
MSU Men’s Tennis Announces 2018 Spring Slate
November 09, 2017 | Men's Tennis
STARKVILLE, Miss. – Yet another challenging spring slate awaits the Mississippi State men's tennis team in 2018.
Last season, the Bulldogs earned the program's 26th NCAA Tournament berth (seventh straight) en route to registering its most wins (21) since 1998 and finishing No. 18 nationally. State also reached the finals of the Southeastern Conference tournament for the first time since 1996.
This season, the Bulldogs look to improve on that with a challenging non-conference slate that leads into the always-difficult SEC campaign.
"We are excited about our spring schedule as it is going to push our guys each week," MSU head coach Matt Roberts said. "We start with a lot of home matches, which will be perfect for our fans to come out early in the spring and get to know the team and build a relationship with their favorite players. We respect each program we play so much and try to play programs we trust and like to compete against. This schedule shows this and we look forward to another fun and exciting spring season developing and competing as a team."
In 2018, the Maroon and White will have 11 matches against 2017 NCAA Tournament squads, including Tulane, South Florida and Wisconsin in the non-conference schedule. UAB, Miami, San Diego State and Pepperdine will also visit Starkville. State's league slate features seven NCAA Tournament teams from last season, with MSU hosting four of those foes – Florida, South Carolina, Kentucky and Arkansas - at the A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre.
The 2018 campaign opens with three consecutive home contests beginning Sunday, Jan. 14, against UAB before the Bulldogs welcome South Florida and Miami (Fla.) a week later.
State will then make its first road trip of the spring to Stillwater, Okla., for the ITA Kickoff Weekend, where the Bulldogs will open up with Wisconsin on Saturday, Jan. 27, before facing either Kentucky or host Oklahoma State the next day. If the Bulldogs win both contests in Stillwater, they will qualify for the ITA National Team Indoor Championship, this year being held Feb. 16-19 in Seattle, Wash., for the second straight season.
The SEC slate begins on March 4, when MSU hosts Auburn in the first of three straight SEC affairs at the Pitts Tennis Centre. Florida (3/9), South Carolina (3/11), Vanderbilt (3/23), Kentucky (3/25) and Arkansas (4/6) will also visit Starkville this spring.
Postseason action will begin on Wednesday, April 25, as the Bulldogs compete in the 2018 SEC Championship in Tuscaloosa, Ala. The opening two rounds of the NCAA Team Championship will take place May 11-13 at various sites across the country. If the Bulldogs advance to the program's 13th Round of 16 appearance, MSU will make the trip to Winston Salem, N.C., for the final rounds of the NCAA Team Championship beginning Thursday, May 17. With Wake Forest serving as host for the first time ever, the NCAA Individual Championships will follow the team competition on May 23.
2018 Schedule Breakdown
For more information on the Mississippi State men's tennis program, follow "HailStateMT" on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Last season, the Bulldogs earned the program's 26th NCAA Tournament berth (seventh straight) en route to registering its most wins (21) since 1998 and finishing No. 18 nationally. State also reached the finals of the Southeastern Conference tournament for the first time since 1996.
This season, the Bulldogs look to improve on that with a challenging non-conference slate that leads into the always-difficult SEC campaign.
"We are excited about our spring schedule as it is going to push our guys each week," MSU head coach Matt Roberts said. "We start with a lot of home matches, which will be perfect for our fans to come out early in the spring and get to know the team and build a relationship with their favorite players. We respect each program we play so much and try to play programs we trust and like to compete against. This schedule shows this and we look forward to another fun and exciting spring season developing and competing as a team."
In 2018, the Maroon and White will have 11 matches against 2017 NCAA Tournament squads, including Tulane, South Florida and Wisconsin in the non-conference schedule. UAB, Miami, San Diego State and Pepperdine will also visit Starkville. State's league slate features seven NCAA Tournament teams from last season, with MSU hosting four of those foes – Florida, South Carolina, Kentucky and Arkansas - at the A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre.
The 2018 campaign opens with three consecutive home contests beginning Sunday, Jan. 14, against UAB before the Bulldogs welcome South Florida and Miami (Fla.) a week later.
State will then make its first road trip of the spring to Stillwater, Okla., for the ITA Kickoff Weekend, where the Bulldogs will open up with Wisconsin on Saturday, Jan. 27, before facing either Kentucky or host Oklahoma State the next day. If the Bulldogs win both contests in Stillwater, they will qualify for the ITA National Team Indoor Championship, this year being held Feb. 16-19 in Seattle, Wash., for the second straight season.
The SEC slate begins on March 4, when MSU hosts Auburn in the first of three straight SEC affairs at the Pitts Tennis Centre. Florida (3/9), South Carolina (3/11), Vanderbilt (3/23), Kentucky (3/25) and Arkansas (4/6) will also visit Starkville this spring.
Postseason action will begin on Wednesday, April 25, as the Bulldogs compete in the 2018 SEC Championship in Tuscaloosa, Ala. The opening two rounds of the NCAA Team Championship will take place May 11-13 at various sites across the country. If the Bulldogs advance to the program's 13th Round of 16 appearance, MSU will make the trip to Winston Salem, N.C., for the final rounds of the NCAA Team Championship beginning Thursday, May 17. With Wake Forest serving as host for the first time ever, the NCAA Individual Championships will follow the team competition on May 23.
2018 Schedule Breakdown
- The 2018 schedule features 20 matches, with 11 of those being at A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre.
- Out of the 20 matches on MSU's schedule, 11 of them will come versus opponents reached the 2017 NCAA Championship, with three reaching at least the Round of 16.
- Season/Home Opener: UAB (Jan. 14)
- SEC Opener: Auburn (March 4)
- Senior Day/Super Bulldog Weekend: Arkansas (April 6)
- Nine of MSU's 2018 opponents finished in the Top 4 of their respective conferences in 2017.
- State's schedule is challenging, feature 12 teams that finished last season with winning records.
- Opponents who finished 2017 in the Top 75: 16
For more information on the Mississippi State men's tennis program, follow "HailStateMT" on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Men's Tennis | 2026 NCAA Tournament Media Session - Matt Roberts
Friday, May 01
Men's Tennis | Matt Roberts Michigan State Presser
Saturday, May 03
Men's Tennis | Matt Roberts & Niccolo Baroni
Friday, May 02
Men's Tennis | Matt Roberts - NCAA Selection Show
Monday, April 28