Aggies Host Pair of Doubleheaders at the Mitchell Tennis Center

Friday, March 18

College Station

3:00 PM

Texas A&M

Tyler JC

Tickets

Mar 17, 2016 | Men's Tennis

By: Texas A&M Media Relations

COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The No. 9 Texas A&M men's tennis team (15-4) returns to the George P Mitchell Tennis Center to face No. 25 Mississippi State (11-3) Friday at 12 p.m. followed by a 3 p.m. match-up against the Tyler Junior College Apaches (10-2). Sunday the Aggies will take on No. 43 Alabama (11-7) at noon followed by a 6 p.m. date with No. 38 Rice (14-4).

The maroon and white are in a four-way tie for second in the SEC standings at 3-1, along with Arkansas, Kentucky and Mississippi State, trailing No. 19 Georgia (8-3, 3-0), the Tide enter the weekend at 2-2 in league play.

Texas A&M enters the match with a trio of ranked singles players, led by No. 14 Arthur Rinderknech. Rinderknech earned the highest initial spring ranking for an Aggie on record back in January. Additionally, the Paris, France native has been the highest-ranked SEC player in each ranking this spring. The Frenchman stands at 19-7 this year, including a team-high seven wins over ranked opponents.

Senior Shane Vinsant brings a No. 34 ranking into the matchup. The Keller, Texas native is currently 16-9 on the season, trailing Rinderknech with six wins against ranked foes. Vinsant has earned All-SEC recognition each of the last two seasons, along with the 2014 SEC Tournament MVP honors. A season ago Vinsant was named an All-American alongside classmate Harrison Adams after earning a final No. 10 ranking in the doubles poll.

Sophomore Jordi Arconada was ranked No. 67 last week by the ITA, the highest the Buenos Aires native has been ranked in his collegiate career. The right-hander is 16-9 on the season, including an impressive straight set victory over then 16^th-ranked Hugo Di Feo of Ohio State at the ITA Indoor Championships last month.

In addition to the three ranked singles players, the Aggies enlist a trio of ranked doubles teams. No. 25 Rinderknech and Jackson Withrow, No. 34 Rinderknech and Vinsant and the 57^th ranked pair of Jordi Arconada and Max Lunkin. Rinderknech and Withrow are 10-3 this season, with a 5-3 mark against ranked teams. Arconada and Lunkin are 9-3 this season, with a 6-2 dual record and one win over a ranked doubles team under their belt.

Visiting teams will bring a quartet of ranked singles players this weekend along with one ranked doubles pair. Mississippi State features No. 36 Mate Cutura and No. 77 Rishab Agarawal, while Alabama has No. 62 Mazen Osama and No. 81 Korey Lovett slated to feature on Sunday afternoon. Osama and Lovett also comprise the 42^nd ranked doubles team in the latest ITA ranking.

Last weekend the Aggies split a pair of road SEC matches, falling at Arkansas Friday night before salvaging the weekend with a win at No. 22 Ole Miss. Withrow went 2-0 in both singles and doubles action last week, partnering with Rinderknech in doubles play. Vinsant, Harrison Adams and Arconada split singles matches on the road.

Visit 12thMan.com for more information on Texas A&M men's tennis. Aggie fans also can keep up to date with the A&M men's tennis team on Twitter by following @AggieMTEN or on Facebook at Facebook.com/AggieMensTennis.