No. 26 State Set for Pair of Ranked SEC Matchups

The No. 26 Mississippi State is ready to start SEC play on the road after an 11-match homestand.

The 10-1 Bulldogs will face the Tennessee Volunteers (9-2), currently ranked 16^th in the nation, on Saturday at 4 p.m. in Barksdale Stadium. This is the first time MSU will go on the road this season.
After MSU duals in a top-30 showdown, they have to saddle up quickly and play in another one as they head to Lexington to take on No. 28 Kentucky (7-3) on Monday at 11 a.m. inside the Hilary J. Boone Tennis Complex.

Rankings: Singles – MSU - Benito Sanchez Martinez (65), Petar Jovanovic (67), Mario Martinez Serrano (85), Niccolo Baroni (115) Tennessee – Shunsuke Mitsui (16), Alex Kotzen (31), Alejandro Moreno (95) Kentucky – Jaden Weekes (66), Antoine Ghibaudo (69), Jack Loutit (81), Charlelie Cosnet (121) Doubles – MSU – Jovanovic/Sanchez Martinez (10), Baroni/Martinez Serrano (29) Tennessee – Kotzen/Moreno (26)

Series History: MSU trails in the series vs. Tennessee 22-39 overall and 8-19 in Knoxville.

State is also behind in the series against Kentucky 24-34 overall and 8-20 in Lexington. However, Mississippi State does lead the series when they are at home, 14-10.

Last Meeting: The Bulldogs fell 3-4 to Tennessee in Starkville last year. Jovanovic and Sanchez Martinez helped secure the doubles point, and Sanchez Martinez also picked up a singles victory.

Mississippi State was defeated by Kentucky 5-2 in Starkville last year. Jovanovic contributed singles and doubles victories in that match, capturing the doubles point with Sanchez Martinez once again.

Last Time Out: The Bulldogs shutout Memphis (7-0) and Jackson State (7-0) at home on Feb. 9th. Memphis recorded three straight victories against Jackson State, Oklahoma State and New Orleans after falling to MSU. JSU dropped their match last Friday against Nicholls, 2-4. Memphis is 5-7 overall and Jackson State is 0-4 on the season.

MSU Leaders: Overall singles wins – Roberto Ferrer Guimaraes (14), Baroni (13), Jovanovic (13), Martinez Serrano (13), Michal Novansky (13) Singles wins vs. ranked opponents – Sanchez Martinez (5) Match clinches – Ferrer Guimaraes (3). Overall doubles wins – Jovanovic/Sanchez Martinez (16) Doubles wins vs. ranked opponents – Jovanovic/Sanchez Martinez (5) Doubles clinches – Baroni/Martinez Serrano (4), Jovanovic/Sanchez Martinez (4).

Notes to Know:

Mississippi State is in its 102nd season of men's tennis. The program played its first tennis match in 1907 and has competed every year since 1946.
Matt Roberts is in his 13th season at MSU and 11th as the Bulldogs' head coach. Roberts has compiled a 197-79 overall record and a 127- 25 mark at home. He is currently the longest-tenured head coach at State.
The Bulldogs have made 13-consecutive appearances in the NCAA Championships and have reached the Sweet 16 in five of the past six seasons.
Men's tennis posted a 3.68 grade point average during the fall semester. It was the highest team GPA of any sport at Mississippi State.
State is tied for first with the most wins in the SEC (10), and they have the best winning percentage in the conference (.909).
Jovanovic and Sanchez Martinez come into SEC play with 42 career victories together, which is good for the fifth-most wins by a doubles duo in program history. With one doubles victory on Saturday or Monday, they will be tied with Laurent Miquelard and Joc Simmons for fourth place.
No. 29 Baroni and Martinez Serrano have history with Tennessee's No. 26 duo of Kotzen and Moreno. Baroni and Martinez Serrano defeated the pair of Volunteers 6-4, 6-4, at the ITA South Sectional Championships this past fall. This victory gave the Bulldogs third place for doubles in the tournament and a bid for the NCAA Doubles Championships.
Novansky is riding a career and team-best 11-match winning streak in singles. He has not lost in singles during dual match play since April 20, 2023.

For more information on the Bulldog men's tennis program, visit HailState.com or search for "HailStateMT" on X, Instagram and Facebook.

No. 26 State Set for Pair of Ranked SEC Matchups

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Niccolo Baroni

Roberto Ferrer Guimaraes

Petar Jovanovic

Mario Martinez Serrano

Michal Novansky

Benito Sanchez Martinez

Mississippi State University Athletics

No. 26 State Set for Pair of Ranked SEC Matchups

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Niccolo Baroni

Roberto Ferrer Guimaraes

Petar Jovanovic

Mario Martinez Serrano

Michal Novansky

Benito Sanchez Martinez

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