Bulldog Tennis Moves Up To #15 Nationally In Latest ITA Rankings
MSU's current 9-3 overall record is its best record after 12 matchessince the 1998 Bulldog squad started 10-2. The Bulldogs' three losses thisseason have all come to teams currently ranked in the top 26 nationally.After starting the season 2-2, State has reeled off victories in seven ofits last eight matches, including its first 4-0 start in the SEC since 1997.State joins No. 6 Mississippi, No. 7 Georgia, No. 8 Florida and No. 21Tennessee as the only undefeated teams in the SEC at present.
The Bulldogs were off from competition this past weekend, but willresume a five-match SEC road swing this weekend when it takes on two ofthose undefeated league squads. This Friday, March 25, State will travel tomeet seventh-ranked Georgia in Athens before visiting No. 21 Tennessee thisSunday, March 27, in Knoxville. MSU concludes the road trip Apr. 1 at No. 71Arkansas.
MSU returns home Apr. 3 to welcome No. 16 LSU to start a four-matchhomestand that will end the regular season slate. During that homestand,State will also host No. 8 Florida (Apr. 8), No. 41 South Carolina (Apr. 10)and No. 6 Mississippi (Apr. 16).
"We are very pleased to be in the top 15 in the country at this point.It is very gratifying considering how well we have played, and our teamshould be proud of what they have accomplished so far," MSU head coachSylvain Guichard said. "But as I said last week when we jumped into the top20, we still have a tremendous amount of work ahead of us this season. Wemust continue to improve and focus if we expect to keep playing as well aswe have. Obviously, we have a very difficult schedule remaining and we lookforward to those challenges."