M TENNIS CENTRAL: Alabama/Mississippi State

March 10, 2016

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- The Tennessee Volunteers hit the road for the first time in SEC men's tennis play, taking on Alabama on Friday and Mississippi State on Sunday.

The Vols (6-6, 0-2 SEC) face Alabama (9-6, 1-1) on Friday at 6 p.m. Eastern and Mississippi State (9-3, 1-1) on Sunday at 2 p.m. Eastern. Tennessee's road trip will extend into next week as the Vols play Southern Illinois players again in the Tennessee/SIU Scramble in Gulf Shores, Ala.

For some quick news and notes:

SRDJAN'S START

Freshman Srdjan Jakovljevic got his SEC career off to a winning start, going 2-0 on court 4 for the Vols last week against Ole Miss and Arkansas. Both victories came in straight sets for the newcomer from Serbia, who is off to a 5-3 start to his career, having joined the team in January.

Jakovljevic also collected his first collegiate doubles victory over the weekend, winning 6-3 on court 3 with Timo Stodder against Arkansas.

LAST YEAR AGAINST ALABAMA, MISSISSIPPI STATE

The Vols went 2-1 against Alabama and Mississippi State last year, defeating the Crimson Tide twice, once in Knoxville and once in the SEC Tournament.

Tennessee picked up a 4-0 victory over Alabama at home during the regular season with Hunter Reese closing out the match on court 2. The stakes were higher when the two teams met in the first round of the SEC Tournament, where Luis Valero came from a break down in the third set to clinch the Vols' 4-3 victory on court 4. Valero served out a 6-7(5), 6-4, 7-5 victory over Stuart Kenyon on court 4.

Mississippi State came out on the winning side of a 4-3 match against the Vols last year in Knoxville.