Razorbacks Travel to Vanderbilt and Kentucky for Pair of SEC Weekend Matches

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Arkansas hits the road this weekend for a pair of Southeastern Conference matches against Vanderbilt and Kentucky.

The No. 20 Razorbacks (10-4, 1-1 SEC) are coming off a 5-2 win over 36th-ranked Tulsa. It was only the second time this season the Hogs have won a dual match despite dropping the doubles point. Arkansas is 8-0 when winning doubles and 2-4 when losing.

UA split their first two SEC matches. The Hogs dropped a close match to No. 1 Georgia, 5-2, before knocking off No. 28 Tennessee, 5-2.

This weekend marks the first time this season the Razorbacks have played a true road match. Arkansas has played eight home matches and six on neutral courts. UA is 6-2 at home, and 4-2 at neutral sites. The Hogs’ last road win came at Army in February of 2005.

The Razorbacks bring four ranked singles players and two ranked doubles combos into this weekend’s action. Senior Adrians Zguns leads the way for the Hogs at No. 15, followed by classmates Matt Roberts at No. 46 and Rohan Gajjar at No. 82, as well as freshman Blake Strode at No. 101. The tandem of Strode and Zguns made their first appearance in the rankings this week at No. 25, while Roberts and Gajjar are No. 47.

Vanderbilt (5-5, 0-2) is ranked 62nd in this week’s FILA/ITA rankings. The Commodores dropped a pair of road matches last weekend at Alabama and Auburn. VU is led by 55th-ranked Ryan Preston at No. 1 singles.

Kentucky (9-3, 2-0) is the nation’s 29th-ranked team. The Wildcats swept Alabama and Auburn on the road last weekend, and knocked off Murray State, 5-2, in a mid-week match. UK is led by 32nd-ranked Bruno Agostinelli, 41st-ranked Alex Hume and 121st-ranked Nate Emge.

Friday’s match with Vanderbilt is set for 3 p.m. at the Currey Tennis Center in Nashville, Tenn. The Razorbacks take on Kentucky Sunday at 1 p.m. at the Boone Varsity Tennis Courts in Lexington, Ky.

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