Friday, May 11
Starkville
not before 1:00 PM
Mississippi State
vs
Tennessee Tech
The 2018 SEC Champions begin NCAA Championship play Friday against Tennessee Tech.
Photo by: Blake Williams/MSU Athletics
No. 7 Bulldogs Host Tennessee Tech Friday To Open 2018 NCAA Championship
May 10, 2018 | Men's Tennis
STARKVILLE, Miss. – A new journey begins for the seventh-ranked Mississippi State men's tennis team on Friday, as it will open play in the 2018 NCAA Division I Team Championship.
After playing their regular-season home finale nearly a month ago, the SEC Tournament Champion and No. 6 NCAA national seed Bulldogs (20-2) return to the friendly confines of the A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre to open play in the 2018 NCAA Championship at approximately 1 p.m. Friday against Tennessee Tech (10-11). State is making its 27th overall appearance in the tournament, and its 23rd in the last 28 seasons.
Friday's first match pits second-seeded and 21st-ranked Memphis (18-5) against third-seeded South Alabama (14-9) at 10 a.m. CT. The winners of the Friday contests will then face each other in the second round matchup on Saturday, May 12, at 1 p.m. for the right to advance to the NCAA Round of 16 in Winston-Salem, N.C., on May 18.
"We're extremely excited about getting back on our home courts this weekend to host the NCAA First and Second Rounds," said head coach Matt Roberts, the 2018 SEC Coach of the Year. "All three teams coming here are experienced and have really good players, so it's going to be an exciting weekend of tennis that the fans are going to enjoy. Tennessee Tech is coming in with a lot of confidence after winning their third straight conference title, so we know they're going to give us a great match on Friday."
MSU In The ITA Rankings…
In the most recent Intercollegiate Tennis Association team rankings released on May 3, MSU jumped back up to No. 7 nationally—its fifth straight week in the top 10. Five Bulldogs made the cut in the most recent singles and doubles rankings. In singles, two-time All-American and SEC Player of the Year Nuno Borges remained at No. 2 in the nation, tying his career-best, while earning the No. 3 seed in the 2018 NCAA Singles Championship. Sophomore Giovanni Oradini is ranked 23rd nationally, while junior Strahinja Rakic is ranked No. 84 in the country. In doubles, a trio of Bulldog duos grace the rankings, led by Borges and Rakic now in the nation's top spot, making them the ninth and 10th Bulldogs (men or women) to earn a No. 1 ranking in singles or doubles. Rakic also earned All-America status when he and Borges grabbed the No. 1 seed in this year's NCAA Doubles Championship. The dynamic duo of Niclas Braun and Oradini are up 23 spots to No. 38, while Braun and Trevor Foshey sit at 87th nationally.
About Tennessee Tech…
The Golden Eagles enter the field of 64 for the third year in a row, coming off a thrilling 4-3 victory against top-seeded Belmont to win their third-straight Ohio Valley Conference tournament championship. In singles, TTU is led by senior and first team All-OVC selection Eduardo Mena, who is ranked 63rd nationally in singles. Mena earned the OVC's automatic berth in the NCAA Singles Championship later this month.
Tickets
Tickets for the NCAA event at MSU may be purchased in advance or on each day of the tournament. An all-tournament pass is $8 for adults and $5 for senior citizens, college students, and children under 17. Single-day tickets for Friday and Saturday are $5 for adults and $3 for senior citizens, college students, and children under 17. Fans interested in purchasing advance all-tournament tickets may do so by contacting the Mississippi State Athletic Ticket Office (662-325-2600 or 1-888-GO-DAWGS). They can also be ordered online at www.HailState.com/tickets.
Live Video/Stats
All matches this weekend will feature live streaming and scoring found at hailstate.com/livemt.
What To Note As MSU Enters The NCAA Championship…
Next Up For MSU…
Should the Bulldogs advance, they will take on the winner of Friday's 10 a.m. match between No. 21 Memphis and South Alabama on Saturday for the right to advance to the NCAA Round of 16. Saturday's second round match at the Pitts Tennis Centre is slated for a 1 p.m. start.
For more information on the Mississippi State men's tennis program, follow "HailStateMT" on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
2018 NCAA Men's Tennis Championship First and Second Rounds
May 11-12, 2018 – A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre – Starkville, Miss.
5/11/18 – First Round
Match 1 (10 a.m. CT) – No. 2 Memphis vs. No. 3 South Alabama
Match 2 (not before 1 p.m. CT) – No. 1 Mississippi State vs. No. 4 Tennessee Tech
5/12/18 – Second Round**
Match 3 (1 p.m.) – Match 1 winner vs. Match 2 winner
Winner advances to NCAA Round of 16, May 18 in Winston-Salem, N.C.
Schedule subject to change
After playing their regular-season home finale nearly a month ago, the SEC Tournament Champion and No. 6 NCAA national seed Bulldogs (20-2) return to the friendly confines of the A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre to open play in the 2018 NCAA Championship at approximately 1 p.m. Friday against Tennessee Tech (10-11). State is making its 27th overall appearance in the tournament, and its 23rd in the last 28 seasons.
Friday's first match pits second-seeded and 21st-ranked Memphis (18-5) against third-seeded South Alabama (14-9) at 10 a.m. CT. The winners of the Friday contests will then face each other in the second round matchup on Saturday, May 12, at 1 p.m. for the right to advance to the NCAA Round of 16 in Winston-Salem, N.C., on May 18.
"We're extremely excited about getting back on our home courts this weekend to host the NCAA First and Second Rounds," said head coach Matt Roberts, the 2018 SEC Coach of the Year. "All three teams coming here are experienced and have really good players, so it's going to be an exciting weekend of tennis that the fans are going to enjoy. Tennessee Tech is coming in with a lot of confidence after winning their third straight conference title, so we know they're going to give us a great match on Friday."
MSU In The ITA Rankings…
In the most recent Intercollegiate Tennis Association team rankings released on May 3, MSU jumped back up to No. 7 nationally—its fifth straight week in the top 10. Five Bulldogs made the cut in the most recent singles and doubles rankings. In singles, two-time All-American and SEC Player of the Year Nuno Borges remained at No. 2 in the nation, tying his career-best, while earning the No. 3 seed in the 2018 NCAA Singles Championship. Sophomore Giovanni Oradini is ranked 23rd nationally, while junior Strahinja Rakic is ranked No. 84 in the country. In doubles, a trio of Bulldog duos grace the rankings, led by Borges and Rakic now in the nation's top spot, making them the ninth and 10th Bulldogs (men or women) to earn a No. 1 ranking in singles or doubles. Rakic also earned All-America status when he and Borges grabbed the No. 1 seed in this year's NCAA Doubles Championship. The dynamic duo of Niclas Braun and Oradini are up 23 spots to No. 38, while Braun and Trevor Foshey sit at 87th nationally.
About Tennessee Tech…
The Golden Eagles enter the field of 64 for the third year in a row, coming off a thrilling 4-3 victory against top-seeded Belmont to win their third-straight Ohio Valley Conference tournament championship. In singles, TTU is led by senior and first team All-OVC selection Eduardo Mena, who is ranked 63rd nationally in singles. Mena earned the OVC's automatic berth in the NCAA Singles Championship later this month.
Tickets
Tickets for the NCAA event at MSU may be purchased in advance or on each day of the tournament. An all-tournament pass is $8 for adults and $5 for senior citizens, college students, and children under 17. Single-day tickets for Friday and Saturday are $5 for adults and $3 for senior citizens, college students, and children under 17. Fans interested in purchasing advance all-tournament tickets may do so by contacting the Mississippi State Athletic Ticket Office (662-325-2600 or 1-888-GO-DAWGS). They can also be ordered online at www.HailState.com/tickets.
Live Video/Stats
All matches this weekend will feature live streaming and scoring found at hailstate.com/livemt.
What To Note As MSU Enters The NCAA Championship…
- MSU is in its 94th season of tennis, with Matt Roberts in his fourth season at the helm.
- State is a top 16 national seed for the first time since 2013.
- The Bulldogs and Tennessee Tech have met on the court just four times, with MSU holding a 2-1 lead in the series. TTU's lone victory came in the first-ever meeting in Starkville in 1971. The last time the teams met, in 2013, State came away with a 5-0 win at MSU.
- Under Roberts in the NCAA Championship, the Bulldogs are 4-3 in three trips. State has advanced past the first round in all three trips, including seven years in a row. In total, the Bulldogs are making their 27th appearance in the team championship, their eighth in a row and 23rdin the last 28 years.
- When the Bulldogs have won doubles in 2018, they are 15-2 and have won 16 of the last 18 doubles points.
- Top-ranked Nuno Borges and Strahinja Rakic are currently riding a five-match win streak and have won eight of their last nine as a tandem.
- Niclas Braun and Giovanni Oradini have won 14 of their last 15 doubles matches.
- Borges has won six of his last eight matches, while also leading the team with 19 ranked singles wins.
- Florian Broska has won three straight, including a stellar 10 of his last 11.
- Oradini has won two in a row in singles, and nine of his last 11.
- Three Bulldogs earned bids to the upcoming NCAA Singles and Doubles Championships—Borges (singles and doubles automatic), Rakic (doubles w/ Borges automatic) and Oradini (singles at-large)
Next Up For MSU…
Should the Bulldogs advance, they will take on the winner of Friday's 10 a.m. match between No. 21 Memphis and South Alabama on Saturday for the right to advance to the NCAA Round of 16. Saturday's second round match at the Pitts Tennis Centre is slated for a 1 p.m. start.
For more information on the Mississippi State men's tennis program, follow "HailStateMT" on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
2018 NCAA Men's Tennis Championship First and Second Rounds
May 11-12, 2018 – A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre – Starkville, Miss.
5/11/18 – First Round
Match 1 (10 a.m. CT) – No. 2 Memphis vs. No. 3 South Alabama
Match 2 (not before 1 p.m. CT) – No. 1 Mississippi State vs. No. 4 Tennessee Tech
5/12/18 – Second Round**
Match 3 (1 p.m.) – Match 1 winner vs. Match 2 winner
Winner advances to NCAA Round of 16, May 18 in Winston-Salem, N.C.
Schedule subject to change
Players Mentioned
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