Alabama
University of Florida
Alabama Men’s Tennis Hosts Three Teams This Weekend in Final Home Contests of the Year
3/29/2017 2:18:00 PM | Men's Tennis
The Crimson Tide concludes the home portion of this year’s schedule by welcoming Florida, South Carolina and Jackson State this weekend
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The Alabama men's tennis team will host three teams this weekend to conclude the home portion of this year's schedule. The Crimson Tide (8-12, 1-6 SEC) will take on the 12th-ranked Florida Gators on Thursday, March 30, at 6 p.m. CT at the Alabama Tennis Stadium. Alabama will then host the 21st-ranked South Carolina Gamecocks on Saturday, April 1, at 1 p.m. CT, before turning around to face the Jackson State Tigers later that evening at 6 p.m. CT.
Promotions:
Thursday's match will serve as Greek Day/Tuscaloosa Tennis Association Night. We will also recognize those who are in the Tuscaloosa Tennis Association during the match as well. Taco Mama will also be provided at the match for Alabama fans.
Saturday will serve as Fan Appreciation Day/Senior Day. The Alabama men's tennis team would like to invite fans to celebrate the 2017 season and say their goodbyes to the senior class. The Tide will show thanks for this year's support by talking with fans after the match. Fans in attendance will receive double CTR points, and there will be free BBQ provided for Alabama fans.
Last Time Out:
The Tide lost a 7-0 decision to the Georgia Bulldogs on Saturday afternoon in its lone contest last weekend.
Alabama Notes:
The Tide has two singles players and one doubles pair that are ranked in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association rankings.
Sophomore Mazen Osama is nationally ranked No. 35 in singles play, and he has been featured in the weekly singles rankings five times since the start of the dual match season. Osama leads the team for the most total singles wins this year with 17, and he is second on the team for the most singles victories since the start of the dual match season with nine. The talented sophomore has recorded seven wins over nationally ranked opponents this year, including six since the start of the spring season.
Freshman Thibault Cancel is nationally ranked No. 105 in singles, and he has been featured in the weekly singles ranking four times since the start of the dual match season. Cancel is second on the team for the most singles wins with 15, including nine since the start of the spring season. The gifted freshman has registered four wins over nationally ranked singles opponents this year, including two since the start of the dual match season.
Osama and sophomore Spencer Richey are nationally ranked No. 40 in doubles action after collecting eight wins since the start of the spring season, with all matches coming from the No. 1 spot. The duo has registered two wins over nationally ranked doubles teams since the start of the spring season.
The Tide has 41 singles wins in dual match play and it has 22 victories in doubles since the start of the spring season. Freshman Edson Ortiz leads the team with the most singles wins since beginning dual match play with a 10-8 mark. Ortiz is 4-6, 1-1, and 5-1 from the No. 3, No. 4 and No. 5 singles positions, respectively.
Florida:
The Gators enter Thursday's match with a 12-6 overall record including a 5-1 mark in league play. Florida shut out Vanderbilt, 7-0, in its lone contest last weekend. The Gators have three singles players and one doubles pair that are nationally ranked. Alfredo Perez, Elliott Orkin and McClain Kessler are ranked No. 7, No. 106 and No. 117, respectively, in singles. Perez teamed up with Johannes Ingildsen to earn a No. 6 ranking in doubles play.
South Carolina:
South Carolina will arrive to Tuscaloosa with a 16-4 overall record and a 5-2 mark in conference play. Saturday's match against Alabama marks the only match of the weekend for the Gamecocks. South Carolina has two singles players and one doubles tandem that are nationally ranked. Gabriel Friedrich and Harrison O'Keefe are ranked No. 59 and No. 88 in singles, respectively, while O'Keefe teamed up with Yancy Dennis to achieve a No. 47 ranking in doubles.
Series History:
When Alabama and Florida face each other on Thursday it will mark the 44th time the two programs have met on the court, dating back to the 1953 season. The Gators hold a 36-17 advantage in the series. Last year, Florida defeated Alabama in a 5-2 result. The last time the Tide topped the Gators was during the 2008 season, when Alabama won a 5-2 decision over Florida.
Saturday's contest between Alabama and South Carolina marks the 40th time the two schools have met, dating back to the 1968 season. The Tide holds a 22-17 advantage in the series, and last year it defeated the Gamecocks in a 5-2 result.
When Alabama and Jackson State square off against each other on Saturday night it will mark just the seventh time the two teams have met, dating back to the 1981 season. The Tide is undefeated against the Tigers, as it holds a 6-0 advantage in the series.
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Players Mentioned
