University of Tennessee Athletics
Friday, February 27
Knoxville, TN
5:00 p.m. ET
University of Tennessee
vs
Auburn
Men’s Tennis Central: Tennessee vs. #18 Auburn, Oklahoma & Belmont
February 26, 2026 | Men's Tennis
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee men's tennis will host a three-match homestand at Barksdale Stadium, taking on two SEC foes and a non-conference opponent this weekend.
UT will open the weekend with a matchup against No. 18 Auburn on Friday at 5 p.m., followed by a Sunday doubleheader against Oklahoma at 11 a.m. and Belmont at 5 p.m.
LAST TIME OUT
The Volunteers dropped contests against two conference opponents last Saturday and Monday. The SEC matches were close defeats, with the Big Orange falling 5-2 at Kentucky and 4-2 at Vanderbilt.
STAYING HOT
Jose Garcia heads into this weekend on a career-best six-match winning streak in singles, which has propelled him to be the most successful Vol on the team in singles with 13 triumphs. Garcia was able earn his first career ranked win during that time, as well, besting Kentucky's No. 38 Jack Loutit, 4-6, 6-4, 7-5.
STILL UNDEFEATED
Shion Itsusaki remained undefeated in singles with a win on court six in the Kentucky match. Itsusaki moved to 4-0 after he took down Matt Rankin, 6-2, 2-6, 10-8. The freshman has only dropped one set out of the nine he has played thus far. That's an 89-percent winning percentage on court six for Tennessee men's tennis.
SCOUTING THE TIGERS
Auburn (9-1, 1-0 SEC) has improved greatly since the start of season, moving up to No. 18 in the national rankings after beginning the year unranked. The Tigers have collected two top-25 wins, conquering No. 16 Clemson and No. 15 Florida.
Tennessee leads the all-time series against AU, 46-18. Last season was the last time the two opponents faced off, with UT winning a close one, 4-3.
SCOUTING THE SOONERS
The Sooners come into Knoxville with a strong 9-2 record. OU has played two SEC matches to end February, splitting those with a win against Ole Miss and a loss versus South Carolina.
The Sooners and Volunteers have met only seven times previously. UT has won five of the last six matchups, with OU securing a win last season in Norman.
SCOUTING THE BRUINS
The in-state foe has only been able to play eight matches after two were postponed due to weather in January. The dual season has been a climb, with Belmont totaling a record of 2-6 going into this weekend.
The Big Orange have a perfect record of 4-0 against the Bruins. The all-time record has been forged in recent years, dating back to 2013 being the first time the two matched up.
VOLS IN THE RANKINGS
Singles
#58 – Alejandro Moreno
TIGERS IN THE RANKINGS
Singles
#56 – Amirkhamza Nasridinov
#84 – Manel Lazaro Juncadella
#86 – Billy Blaydes
Doubles
#20 – Billy Blaydes/Freddy Blaydes
SOONERS IN THE RANKINGS
Singles
#49 – Luis Carlos Alvarez Valdes
#79 – Oscar Lacides
#89 – Asahi Harazaki
Doubles
#54 – Bruno Nhavene/Oscar Lacides
#71 – Orel Kimhi/Johan Rodriguez
UP NEXT
UT will go back on the road for two more conference contests against Mississippi State on March 6 at 4 p.m. ET at the A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre in Starkville and at LSU on March 8 at 1 p.m. ET at the LSU Tennis Complex in Baton Rouge.
For the most up-to-date information about the program, follow Tennessee men's tennis on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook.
UT will open the weekend with a matchup against No. 18 Auburn on Friday at 5 p.m., followed by a Sunday doubleheader against Oklahoma at 11 a.m. and Belmont at 5 p.m.
LAST TIME OUT
The Volunteers dropped contests against two conference opponents last Saturday and Monday. The SEC matches were close defeats, with the Big Orange falling 5-2 at Kentucky and 4-2 at Vanderbilt.
STAYING HOT
Jose Garcia heads into this weekend on a career-best six-match winning streak in singles, which has propelled him to be the most successful Vol on the team in singles with 13 triumphs. Garcia was able earn his first career ranked win during that time, as well, besting Kentucky's No. 38 Jack Loutit, 4-6, 6-4, 7-5.
STILL UNDEFEATED
Shion Itsusaki remained undefeated in singles with a win on court six in the Kentucky match. Itsusaki moved to 4-0 after he took down Matt Rankin, 6-2, 2-6, 10-8. The freshman has only dropped one set out of the nine he has played thus far. That's an 89-percent winning percentage on court six for Tennessee men's tennis.
SCOUTING THE TIGERS
Auburn (9-1, 1-0 SEC) has improved greatly since the start of season, moving up to No. 18 in the national rankings after beginning the year unranked. The Tigers have collected two top-25 wins, conquering No. 16 Clemson and No. 15 Florida.
Tennessee leads the all-time series against AU, 46-18. Last season was the last time the two opponents faced off, with UT winning a close one, 4-3.
SCOUTING THE SOONERS
The Sooners come into Knoxville with a strong 9-2 record. OU has played two SEC matches to end February, splitting those with a win against Ole Miss and a loss versus South Carolina.
The Sooners and Volunteers have met only seven times previously. UT has won five of the last six matchups, with OU securing a win last season in Norman.
SCOUTING THE BRUINS
The in-state foe has only been able to play eight matches after two were postponed due to weather in January. The dual season has been a climb, with Belmont totaling a record of 2-6 going into this weekend.
The Big Orange have a perfect record of 4-0 against the Bruins. The all-time record has been forged in recent years, dating back to 2013 being the first time the two matched up.
VOLS IN THE RANKINGS
Singles
#58 – Alejandro Moreno
TIGERS IN THE RANKINGS
Singles
#56 – Amirkhamza Nasridinov
#84 – Manel Lazaro Juncadella
#86 – Billy Blaydes
Doubles
#20 – Billy Blaydes/Freddy Blaydes
SOONERS IN THE RANKINGS
Singles
#49 – Luis Carlos Alvarez Valdes
#79 – Oscar Lacides
#89 – Asahi Harazaki
Doubles
#54 – Bruno Nhavene/Oscar Lacides
#71 – Orel Kimhi/Johan Rodriguez
UP NEXT
UT will go back on the road for two more conference contests against Mississippi State on March 6 at 4 p.m. ET at the A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre in Starkville and at LSU on March 8 at 1 p.m. ET at the LSU Tennis Complex in Baton Rouge.
For the most up-to-date information about the program, follow Tennessee men's tennis on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook.
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