Saturday, February 22
Knoxville, Tenn.
4 p.m. CT
Mississippi State
at
Tennessee
Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics
No. 26 State Set for Pair of Ranked SEC Matchups
February 21, 2025 | Men's Tennis
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 16th 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:
The 10-1 Bulldogs will face the Tennessee Volunteers (9-2), currently ranked 16th 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.
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