Alabama
University of Arkansas
Alabama Women’s Tennis Hosts Arkansas and Missouri to Conclude 2017 Regular Season
4/13/2017 11:37:00 AM | Women's Tennis
The Crimson Tide hosts No. 18 Arkansas on Friday, April 14, at 4 p.m. CT, before taking on Missouri on Sunday, April 16, at 1 p.m. CT
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The 33rd-ranked Alabama women's tennis team will host a pair of Southeastern Conference matches this weekend to conclude the 2017 regular season. The Crimson Tide (8-13, 2-9 SEC) will take on the 18th-ranked Arkansas Razorbacks (15-8, 5-6 SEC) on Friday, April 14, at 4 p.m. CT at the Alabama Tennis Stadium, before turning around on Sunday, April 16, to square off against the Missouri Tigers (10-12, 1-10 SEC) at 1 p.m. CT.
Promotions:
Friday's match is Fan Appreciation Day, where the Tide will show thanks for this year's support by talking with fans after the match. Alabama tennis t-shirts and materials will be given away during the contest.
Sunday's contest will serve as Senior Day/Family Weekend. The Tide women's tennis team would like to invite fans to come celebrate the 2017 season and say their goodbyes to the senior class. With it being Family Weekend, families are encouraged to come support Alabama in its last home match of the season. The Million Dollar Band will also be in attendance.
Last Time Out:
Alabama upset in-state rival and 12th-ranked Auburn in a 4-3 decision in the Tide's lone contest last weekend.
Alabama Notes:
The Alabama women's tennis team moved up five spots to earn a No. 33 national ranking, announced by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Tuesday. The Crimson Tide also has one singles player and a doubles tandem that are nationally-ranked.
Alabama boasts 49 wins in singles play since beginning the dual match season and 29 victories in doubles.
Senior Erin Routliffe climbed eight spots to earn a No. 15 ranking in singles after compiling 12 wins since beginning the spring season with all of her matches coming from the top position, which ranks first on the team. Routliffe has registered 10 wins over nationally-ranked singles opponents and six victories over nationally-ranked doubles opponents this year. Last weekend, Routliffe outlasted Auburn's No. 36 ranked singles player Andie Dikosavljevic in a 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 decision.
Routliffe and freshman Maddie Pothoff earned a No. 8 ranking in doubles play after posting an impressive 11-3 record since the start of the spring season with all matches coming from the No. 1 spot.
Arkansas Notes:
Arkansas enters Friday's match with a 15-8 overall record including a 5-6 mark in league play. Last weekend, the Razorbacks were shut out by Georgia, 4-0, before going on to outlast Tennessee in a 4-3 result.
Arkansas has three singles players and one doubles team that are nationally-ranked. Shannon Hudson, Ana Oparenovic and Leolia Jeanjean are ranked No. 49, No. 92 and No. 114 in singles, respectively. Hudson teamed up with Gilia Pairone to earn the No. 37 spot in the doubles rankings.
Missouri Notes:
Missouri currently has a 10-12 overall record including a 1-10 mark in conference play. The Tigers will take on Auburn Friday night before arriving in Tuscaloosa for Sunday's match. Last weekend, Missouri lost to Tennessee, 4-3, before being shut out by Georgia in a 4-0 decision.
The Tigers have one doubles tandem that is nationally-ranked. Amina Ismail and Beatriz Machado Santos partnered up to achieve the No. 17 spot in the doubles rankings.
Series History:
When Alabama and Arkansas face each other on Friday it will mark the 32nd time the two programs have met, dating back to the 1981 season. The Tide holds a 21-10 advantage in the series. Last year, Arkansas outlasted Alabama in a 4-3 decision. The last time the Tide topped the Razorbacks was during the 2015 season, when Alabama defeated Arkansas in a 5-2 result.
Sunday's contest between Alabama and Missouri marks just the sixth time the two schools have met on the court, dating back to the 2013 season. The Tide owns a 4-1 advantage in the series. Last year, Alabama lost a 4-3 decision to Missouri during the regular season, before going on to shut out the Tigers, 4-0, during the SEC Tournament.
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