AUBURN, Ala. – Auburn will finish the 2023-24 regular season with matches against 11th ranked Texas A&M on Friday at 3 p.m. CT and LSU on Sunday at noon CT at the Yarbrough Tennis Center. The Tigers enter the weekend with an even conference record of 5-5, which places them in a tie for fifth in the SEC standings.
Auburn's dramatic 4-3 victory over Alabama on Friday helped propel the team to No. 26 in Tuesday's ITA rankings.
"I feel like this season we've been on the road quite a bit so it's nice to come home at the end of the season when we've been grinding and guys are tired to get that extra motivation," said Auburn head coach Bobby Reynolds. "We face Texas A&M who we saw earlier in the season at ITA Kickoff and had a battle with them losing 4-2, but I feel like we could have won the doubles and some of those singles points."
The Aggies will enter Friday's match with an 18-7 overall record and fourth in the SEC at 7-3. The team is in the midst of a two-match skid, dropping each of its two matches during the week to Oklahoma and Arkansas.
Auburn and Texas A&M have already faced off once earlier this season at ITA Kickoff Weekend on Jan. 28 in Clemson, South Carolina. In that match, the Tigers dropped a tight doubles point before Finn Murgett and Billy Blaydes each earned straight set singles wins. Auburn would ultimately lose the close match 4-2.
The Aggies have two singles players represented in the latest ITA rankings that were released Tuesday. Raphael Perot and JC Roddick, who regularly play No. 1 and No. 2 in the singles lineup, were ranked 22nd and 37th, respectively. Perot holds a 13-8 overall singles record this season and is 7-6 against ranked opponents while Roddick is 24-9 overall this season and 7-5 against ranked opponents.
"LSU has had some great wins and has struggled at times. It's one of those teams that you have to be ready for. You don't know what LSU team you're going to get so the biggest thing is preparing mentally and emotionally."
LSU moved down two spots in the latest ITA team rankings from the previous week to 39th in the nation. The Bayou Bengals have struggled recently, dropping each of their last nine matches and have a 1-9 record against SEC opponents. The team is 11-10 this season overall.
Friday's match against Texas A&M will feature an "ultimate fan giveaway" where one fan in attendance will win a free Yeti cooler, Stanley cup and folding rocking chair. All fans in attendance will also receive free Kona Ice during the doubles point.
During Sunday's match against LSU, a sundae bar will be free for fans in attendance while supplies last and a Senior Day ceremony honoring Raul Dobai, Finn Murgett and Tyler Stice will take place on court five after the match concludes.
Live video and live stats of both matches will be available online at AuburnTigers.com and the Auburn Tigers app.
