The only break the LSU men’s and women’s tennis teams are optimistic about this weekend is the one on their opponents’ serves. While some University students will travel to Gulf Shores, Ala., the No. 46 Tigers (5-10, 2-4) make the voyage to the same stay with hopes of trouncing the No. 33 Crimson Tide (8-10, 1-5) on Friday and No. 45 Auburn (6-9, 2-4) on Sunday. “In the matches we’ve won, we’ve found a formula, which is to fight the whole time,” said LSU men’s coach Jeff Brown. “We’re going to have to have that same mentality in both of those matches to be successful.” The Crimson Tide and Tigers both feature two ranked players, and Auburn is on a two-match win streak. But No. 34 sophomore Neal Skupski, who has dropped only one of his last six ranked matches, doesn’t put too much reliance on numbers. “Everyone in college is pretty good. A ranking is just a number next to someone,” Skupski said.Brown said the Tigers can’t afford to underestimate any Southeastern Conference opponent. “On the road, you’re not going to be a favorite generally in the SEC, unless you’re one of the top-10 teams playing against a team in the 50s and 60s,” he said. “Auburn and Alabama are both very talented in sports, and they’ve both had big wins.” Two ranked SEC foes can rarely be considered trouble-free competition. But LSU’s last three matches were against then-No. 2 Tennessee, then-No. 3 Ohio State and then-No. 7 Georgia. “We made that schedule to gain experience — win or lose,” Brown said. Freshman Stefan Szacinski has rotated throughout the lineup. Brown said Szacinski will occupy the No. 4 slot, sophomore Mark Bowtell will be at No. 2 and junior Sebastian Carlsson will play at the No. 3 spot. “In doubles we have work to do, and our No. 6 singles has been a little inconsistent,” Brown said. “The other five spots we feel like we’re playing at a top-10 level.” Brown said Skupski and Carlsson will remain the top doubles team after their latest doubles victory, but the rest of the doubles teams will be mixed up. “We’re still looking for that magic to strike in a couple of the other spots,” Brown said. The Tigers will return home to face No. 10 Kentucky on April 9 and No. 35 Vanderbilt on April 11.The LSU women’s tennis team will remain in Baton Rouge to face Alabama on Friday and No. 50 Auburn on Sunday. Alabama (8-8, 1-5) fell out of the national rankings this week but defeated Kentucky in its last matchup. No. 24 Vanderbilt blanked Auburn (8-6, 2-5) in the Tigers’ last match, but Auburn won its previous two SEC matches against Kentucky and No. 19 South Carolina. LSU (6-12, 1-5) is on a three-game losing skid, two of which were against top-20 opponents in then-No. 15 Tennessee and then-No. 14 Georgia. “Playing top-20 teams has been a good experience,” said freshman Keri Frankenberger. “Auburn and Alabama are both really good teams. We’re just going to go out with the same intensity.” Frankenberger and freshmen Ebie Wilson and Kaitlin Burns have all recorded singles wins in their last two matches. “I’m excited the way the freshmen have come along,” said LSU women’s coach Tony Minnis. “They’re playing the best teams in the country and also playing fairly high up.” The Lady Tigers will travel to Kentucky on April 9 and Vanderbilt on April 11.—–Contact Rowan Kavner at [email protected]