Feb. 22, 2018
AUBURN, Ala. - The Auburn men's tennis team will face three opponents Friday and Saturday competing in the 70th annual Blue-Gray National Tennis Classic played at Lagoon Park in Montgomery.
Auburn will begin play Friday at 12:30 p.m. CT against Fresno State (7-5), and will play doubles at 4 p.m. Friday against either No. 20 Arizona State (5-3) or Boise State (1-5). The Tigers will play the singles portion of that match Saturday at 10 a.m. and a third match on Saturday afternoon. Consult www.bluegraytennis.com for scores and updated match times.
The entire men's field includes No. 33 Alabama (12-0), Arizona (8-4), No. 20 Arizona State (5-3), Auburn (8-3), Boise State (1-5), Fresno State (7-5), Princeton (6-4) and Rice (3-4).
"In a tournament with five western teams, it's a great opportunity for us to play teams we wouldn't otherwise see until the post-season," Auburn coach Bobby Reynolds said. "Our job is making sure our team is ready to go over and play three competitive matches.
"We love the Blue-Gray. For the guys to stay with host families who have been hosting Auburn players forever, that's a special tradition, along with what the city of Montgomery and the Blue-Gray folks do to promote tennis and support that tournament. It's an excellent field and it comes at a great time in the schedule as we gear up for SEC play.
"Through the first month of the season, we've found out that our guys are resilient. We need to capitalize better on that doubles point, but they are getting more and more familiar and comfortable there.
"We've had three matches so far that have come down to 3-3 and all of them have gone in our favor. And a different guy has clinched it each time, which is nice. If we go out there and each individual lays it on the line each time, then we're going to be successful."
In the first Oracle/ITA computer rankings of the season, senior Edward Nguyen is ranked No. 123 nationally in singles.
The Tigers are 8-3 on the spring season. The Blue-Gray Classic will be Auburn's final competition before beginning SEC action at Mississippi State March 4.