TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The 20th-ranked LSU men’s tennis team will open SEC Tournament play against 12th-seeded Mississippi State on Thursday at 2 p.m. at Alabama’s Varsity Tennis Courts.
The Tigers (15-8, 7-4 SEC) dropped their last two matches, which earned them the tournament’s fifth seed and cost them a first round tournament bye. The squad will look to regain its winning form as they move in to post season play.
“I feel that our potential is still unrealized at this point,” said LSU head coach Jeff Brown. “I feel like we have still have a lot left to accomplish and we haven’t played our best tennis yet.”
LSU owns a 43-11 record over Mississippi State, including a sweep 7-0 of the Bulldogs earlier this season in Baton Rouge. The Tigers also have a five match winning streak against the Bulldogs dating back to 2001.
In 2005, LSU reached the quarterfinals of the SEC Tournament, beating Auburn in the opening round and falling to Ole Miss 4-3 in the quarterfinals. The Tigers won back-to-back tournament titles in 1998 and 1999.
The Tigers will rely on their doubles play to take early advantage of tournament foes this year. LSU has not lost the doubles point in 10 consecutive matches and boasts two ranked doubles pairs.
The Tigers’ No. 1 doubles tandem of Ken Skupski and Mark Growcott remained at No. 9 in the latest ITA poll, while teammates Colt Gaston and Danny Bryan slipped to 30th.
In singles play the top of its lineup, which includes the No. 24-ranked Skupski, will lead LSU. The Tigers will also look for strong performances from team captain Danny Bryan, who posted a 7-4 conference mark, and senior Mark Growcott, who enters the tournament on a two match winning streak.
A win over Mississippi State on Thursday would set up a rematch with 30th–ranked and fifth–seeded Kentucky at 2 p.m. Friday. LSU dropped a tough 4-3 decision to the Wildcats in Lexington on March 10, but would love a chance for payback in the quarterfinals.
2006 SEC Men’s Tennis Tournament
Tuscaloosa, Ala.
April 20-23, 2006
Match
Teams
Time (CT)
Thursday, April 20
Match 1:
#6 Arkansas vs. #11 Vanderbilt
10 a.m.
Match 2:
#7 South Carolina vs. #10 Tennessee
10 a.m.
Match 3:
#8 Alabama vs. #9 Auburn
2 p.m.
Match 4:
#5 LSU vs. #12 Miss. State
2 p.m.
Friday, April 21
Match 5:
Match 1 winner vs. #3 Ole Miss
10 a.m.
Match 6:
Match 2 winner vs. #2 Florida
10 a.m.
Match 7:
Match 3 winner vs. #1 Georgia
2 p.m.
Match 8:
Match 4 winner vs. #4 Kentucky
2 p.m.
Saturday, April 22
Match 9:
Match 5 winner vs. Match 6 winner
2 p.m.
Match 10:
Match 7 winner vs. Match 8 winner
2 p.m.
Sunday, April 23
Championship:
Match 9 winner vs. Match 10 winner
2 p.m.