Alabama
University of Mississippi
Alabama Men’s Tennis Hosts Pair of Matches Against Ole Miss and Arkansas to Begin SEC Play
3/2/2017 1:39:00 PM | Men's Tennis
The Crimson Tide is set to take on Ole Miss on Friday at 6 p.m. CT and Arkansas on Sunday at 1 p.m. CT
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The Alabama men's tennis team hosts a pair of matches this weekend at the Alabama Tennis Stadium to officially begin the Southeastern Conference portion of this year's schedule. The Crimson Tide (6-6) will take on the Ole Miss Rebels on Friday at 6 p.m. CT, before turning around to take on the Arkansas Razorbacks on Sunday at 1 p.m. CT.
Promotions:
The Crimson Racket Club will host the first of four free cookouts of the season during Friday's contest (two for the men and two for the women). Sophomore Langford Hills is the featured Fathead Player of the Match, and fans will be able to pick up his player button from the marketing table. Friday's match will also serve as Campus Night, where we will recognize Alabama Staff and Faculty during the match for their impact on the men's tennis program. We will also be giving away baseball tickets to fans in attendance for Sunday's game, and all members of a Greek affiliation in attendance will receive Greek points. Fans in attendance will also receive double CTR points.
During Sunday's match we will be giving away throwback Crimson Chaos hats. Sophomore Spencer Richey is the featured Fathead Player of the Match, and fans will be able to pick up player button from the marketing table.
Last Time Out:
Last time out, Alabama posted a 1-2 mark at the 69th annual Blue Gray National Tennis Classic. In the first round, the Tide lost a 4-2 decision to the Virginia Tech Hokies. Alabama picked up its lone win of the weekend in the second round against Boise State, 4-1, before falling short to Texas Tech, 4-1, to conclude the two-day event.
Alabama Notes:
The Tide has an overall 25-34 singles record in dual match play, and it has a 14-15 mark in doubles play since beginning the spring season. Freshman Edson Ortiz leads the team with the most singles wins since beginning dual match play with a 7-4 mark. Ortiz is 1-2, 1-1 and 5-1 from the No. 3, No. 4 and No. 5 singles positions, respectively. Alabama's No. 62 nationally-ranked singles player in sophomore Mazen Osama is second on the team in singles wins since beginning the season, owning a 6-3 mark including a 6-2 and 0-1 record from the No. 1 an No. 2 spots, respectively. Osama and sophomore Spencer Richey remain first on the team for the most doubles wins so far this season, as the duo has a 5-4 record with all matches coming from the No. 1 doubles position.
Ole Miss Notes:
Ole Miss enters Friday's contest with a 4-2 overall record, and last weekend the Rebels registered two shutouts against Arkansas-Pine Bluff. The Rebels won the first match by a 7-0 decision, before going on to collect a 5-0 win in the second match. Ole Miss has two players that are nationally-ranked in singles play, as Gustav Hansson and Tim Sandkaulen enter Friday's match at No. 17 and No. 111, respectively. The Rebels also have one doubles pair that is nationally-ranked, as Fabian Fallert and Grey Hamilton enter tomorrow's contest at No. 18.
Arkansas Notes:
Arkansas currently has a 4-5 overall record, and they will face Alabama State in a doubleheader on Friday before arriving to Tuscaloosa for Sunday's match. Last time the Razorbacks were in action was on Feb. 11, when it registered back-to-back 7-0 shutouts against UMKC and Lamar. Arkansas has two players that are nationally-ranked in singles play, as Mike Redlicki and Jose Salazar enter Sunday's match at No. 5 and No. 22, respectively. The Razorbacks also have one doubles pair that is nationally-ranked, as Redlicki and Salazar enter Sunday's contest at No. 57.
Series History:
When Alabama and Ole Miss face each other on Friday it will mark the 68th time the two programs have met, dating back to the 1954 season. The Rebels hold a slim 34-33 advantage in the series. Last year the two teams split their matches, as Alabama defeated Ole Miss in a 4-3 decision in the regular season, before the Rebels turned around to top the Tide, 4-3, in the SEC Tournament.
When the Tide and the Razorbacks square off against each other on Sunday it will mark the 29th time the two schools have faced each other. Alabama holds a 16-12 advantage in the series. The last time Alabama defeated Arkansas was during the 2013 season, as the Tide won a 4-2 decision over the Razorbacks in the SEC Tournament. Last year, Arkansas defeated Alabama in a 4-3 thriller.
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Players Mentioned
