DALLAS — The 17th-ranked LSU men’s tennis team will go out-of-conference for the final time this season when it faces No. 8 SMU in Dallas, Texas, on Wednesday at 1 p.m.
The Tigers enter the contest with a 12-5 mark, but have lost two of their last three. SMU brings a three-match win streak and a 13-1 overall record into the match.
“This is a good chance for the team to get out of the SEC for a match and play a little bit looser,” said LSU coach Jeff Brown. “Hopefully, we’ll be able to play up to our potential because SMU is a very talented team and high-ranked team at No. 8.”
The two teams have 10 times in their history with the series deadlocked at five wins a piece. Last season, LSU rolled to a 5-2 win over the No. 8 Mustangs in Baton Rouge.
Leading the Tigers into action will be senior Ajay Ramaswami, ranked 10th nationally, and junior Dan Kiernan, ranked 64th. Ramaswami owns a 22-13 overall record and is 8-7 in dual matches at No. 1 this season.
Kiernan has been on fire this Spring as he has won 15 of 17 dual matches, including a 14-1 mark at No. 2 singles. He is 21-7 overall this year.
SMU will be led by Genius Chidzikwe and Jon Wallmark. Chidzikwe enters the match with a No. 4 national ranking and is fresh off his 100th career victory. Wallmark is ranked 24th.