A new season begins for the LSU men and women’s tennis teams as Southeastern Conference play begins this weekend.
The 23rd-ranked men’s team hosts No. 11 Alabama today at 2 p.m and No. 17 Auburn on Sunday at 1 p.m at the W.T. “Dub” Robinson Stadium.
The women’s team (6-3) travels to face No. 32 Alabama (8-1) today and No. 29 Auburn (7-1) Sunday. Last weekend LSU lost to Tulsa, 4-3, on Saturday but bounced back to beat Southern Methodist University, 5-2, on Sunday.
The LSU men’s tennis team (6-1) hopped one spot in the rankings this week from No. 24 after defeating Tulsa, 6-1, last weekend.
The Alabama men are perfect on the season at 10-0. Last year the two teams spilt the season series as the Tide beat the Tigers, 4-1, in Tuscaloosa, Ala., and the Tigers eliminated the Tide in the SEC tournament, 4-2.
On the season the men boast five nationally ranked players: Peter Richman at No. 47 in singles play, the doubles teams of Bryan Fisher and Jason Hazley at No. 14 and Cory Ross and Sebastian Rutka at No. 40.
“These rankings are a testament to all of the hard work that they’ve put in this season,” said men’s tennis head coach Jeff Brown. “Right now, we just need to concentrate on getting ready to face two good teams in No. 11 Alabama and No. 17 Auburn this weekend.”