Hog Tennis Preps for West Coast Trip; Strode Mascall Make Rankings Debut at No. 15

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Arkansas is geared up to continue its seven-match road swing, while a Razorback doubles pair made a huge jump into the rankings.

The Razorbacks, ranked 61st in the FILA/ITA rankings released Wednesday, will take on No. 41 Fresno St. Friday at 7 p.m., central, at the Wathen Tennis Center in Fresno. Saturday, the Hogs will face Fresno-Pacific, the sixth-ranked team in NAIA, at 11 a.m., central, and the University of Pacific at 6 p.m. Both of the Saturday matches will be played in Fresno.

A Hog doubles tandem made a big splash in the rankings this week. The duo of Blake Strode and Colin Mascall went from unranked to No. 15 in the new poll. Strode and Mascall are 8-2 on the season, including 5-1 in dual matches.

In the singles rankings, Strode is lone Razorback ranked. The sophomore from St. Louis, Mo. currently sits at No. 70. Strode is 15-4 on the season, 6-1 in dual matches, and has knocked off two top-35 opponents.

This is the final tune-up for the Hogs before opening SEC play Friday, March 2 at top-ranked and newly crowned National Indoor Champion Georgia. Arkansas then travels to Tennessee and Texas before returning to Fayetteville for the conference home opener against Vanderbilt, March 9, at 1:30 p.m.

For results on the Razorbacks trip to California this weekend, please log on to Hogwired.com.