MSU Opens SEC Play At Home With #21 Alabama
STARKVILLE, Miss. - The Mississippi State men's tennis team will open its Southeastern Conference home slate Friday, hosting 21st-ranked Alabama at the A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre on the MSU campus. Match time is set for 2 p.m.
The Bulldogs enter the matchup with a 4-4 overall record this season. State opened SEC play last weekend on the road, dropping a pair of matches to #3 Georgia and 14th-ranked Tennessee. However, in four home matches this season, MSU has not lost in defeating UAB, Louisiana Lafayette, South Alabama and Georgia State.
Having won two matches against ranked opponents to open conference play, MSU senior Ivan Bjelica has upped his season's record to 9-3 and improved to 5-2 in dual matches. The Belgrade, Serbia native has six wins over ranked opponents this spring and moved up to 26th in the latest singles rankings. Bulldog senior Philippe Frayssinoux moved up to 10 spots to 32nd in this week's singles rankings. The Paris, France native has 16 wins this season and is just seven victories away from topping last year's win total. Junior Ryan Farlow has notched 15 wins on the season and has won four of his last six matches. Sophomore Chris Doerr has won two of his last three matches playing on court #4, while freshman Antonio Lastre is 4-2 in dual matches this spring.
Alabama enters Friday's match with a 10-3 mark this season and is 2-0 in conference play after defeating LSU and Arkansas last weekend. The Tide is led by 94th-ranked sophomore Saketh Myneni who is 6-5 in dual matches this season. UA's doubles tandem of Dan Buikema and Mat Thibaudeau are ranked 45th in the doubles poll after going 2-0 to open conference play.
"Alabama is off to a great start this year," said MSU head coach Per Nilsson. "We are going to have to come ready to play and have a solid team effort to have a chance to win. We are ready to get back out there and are excited about the opportunity."
The Bulldogs hold a 25-21 advantage over the Tide dating back to 1969. State has won three of the last four meetings with UA but dropped their only meeting last season in Tuscaloosa, Ala., in a tight 4-3 decision.
Following Friday's match, the Bulldogs will host 23rd-ranked Auburn Sunday at 1 p.m. That match is slated to get underway at 1 p.m. at the A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre on MSU's campus.