The LSU men’s tennis team hits the road this weekend for matches against No. 10 Mississippi State (14-4, 5-1 SEC) and No. 14 Ole Miss (8-5, 4-2).
With more than half of the Southeastern Conference schedule in their rearview mirror, the Tigers (11-7, 2-4) will set out to end their current three-game skid, including consecutive 4-3 losses to No. 24 Tennessee and No. 4 Georgia.
No. 27 LSU will mix up their doubles lineup, as senior Neal Skupski and freshman Chris Simpson debut their pairing on court one. The change will pair senior Tom Knights and junior Olivier Borsos on court two, while junior Roger Anderson will play alongside sophomore James Turbervill on court three.
LSU will boast three ranked singles players for the first time this season, as No. 55 Borsos, No. 73 Skupski and newly-ranked No. 98 Simpson take on ranked opponents all weekend.
The Tigers face Mississippi State today in Starkville, Miss., at 2 p.m. for its first chance at a turnaround.
“[Mississippi State] has energetic crowds, and they’re a high-energy team,” said LSU coach Jeff Brown. “We’ll have to keep our composure and create our own energy.”
The Bulldogs are led in singles by No. 15 Artem Ilyushin, No. 44 Louis Cant, No. 46 George Coupland and No. 67 Malte Stropp.
Mississippi State also brings two ranked duos to the courts with the pairings of No. 32 Cant and Stropp and No. 43 Coupland and Ilyushin.
The Tigers then travel to Oxford, Miss., on Sunday for their matchup with Ole Miss.
The Rebels bring several ranked players in singles and doubles, highlighted by the doubles pairing of German brothers Chris and Marcel Thiemann, who are currently ranked No. 12 in the country.
The LSU women’s tennis team hosts Mississippi State (6-9, 0-6) and No. 17 Ole Miss (11-7, 3-3) this weekend.
The Lady Tigers were able to uproot No. 12 Tennessee last weekend, 5-2, leading to senior Olivia Howlett being named SEC Tennis Player of the Week.
“We’re excited to get back and hopefully keep the little momentum we have going,” said LSU women’s coach Tony Minnis.
No. 35 LSU (10-7, 3-3) will kick things off on today at 3 p.m. as the team takes on Mississippi State.
The Bulldogs will boast the match’s only ranked player in No. 113 Alexandra Perper.
The Lady Tigers will face Ole Miss on Sunday at noon.
The Rebels bring No. 12-ranked Kristi Boxx and No. 78 Caroline Rohde-Moe to the table in singles, as well the No. 6-ranked duo of Boxx and Abby Guthrie.
 
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