FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The LSU men’s tennis team is set to close out its Southeastern Conference schedule on Friday as the Tigers challenge the 21st-ranked Arkansas Razorbacks at 1 p.m. in Fayetteville, Ark.
“We’re approaching both this match and the upcoming SEC Tournament as chances to get some big wins and to help us get off of the bubble for the NCAA Tournament,” said LSU head coach Jeff Brown. “We really put a lot of emphasis on getting off to a good start in the match and we need to come out quickly in order to win the doubles point.”
LSU heads into Friday’s contest with an overall record of 6-12 on the season and a 1-9 mark against conference opponents. In last week’s SEC action, the Tigers knocked off Mississippi State, 5-2, before losing a hard-fought match against fifth-ranked Ole Miss, 4-3.
The Razorbacks enter the SEC Western Division matchup with a 13-7 overall record and a 4-6 mark versus conference opponents. Arkansas is in the midst of a two-match losing streak after falling to both Mississippi State 6-0 and Ole Miss 5-2 last weekend.
In last season’s annual contest between the two rivals, LSU edged the Razorbacks on the road, 4-3. With the win, the Tigers increased their overall lead in the all-time series to 13-3. The Tigers have not lost a match against Arkansas since 1986 and LSU has been victorious in its 11 previous contests against the Razorbacks.
The LSU men’s tennis team will look to solidify its chances of reaching the NCAA Tournament for an eighth-consecutive season on Friday, as the Tigers face the No. 21-ranked Arkansas Razorbacks at 1 p.m. in Fayetteville, Ark.