OXFORD - Ole Miss tennis players, beginning NCAA tournament play on the road for the first time in their careers, will try to make the best of a bad situation beginning today.

The Rebels, ranked No. 2 in the nation and seeded second for the tournament, are one of two top-six seeds traveling for the first two rounds. The decision was based on travel concerns for all teams in the four-team regional format, NCAA officials said.

The Rebels are in Baton Rouge to face Alcorn State at 10 a.m. on the campus of SEC-rival LSU. The Tigers and Rice play on the other side of the bracket, and winners will meet on Saturday for the right to advance to Sweet 16.

The Ole Miss women, ranked No. 21, travel to Atlanta to face Denver at 10 a.m. The winner will face the Georgia Tech-Jackson State winner on Saturday.

Ole Miss men's coach Billy Chadwick was at first steamed by the NCAA's decision to put the Rebels (24-2) on the road. Now he's just annoyed.

"Because of the adversity and all the question marks with what the NCAA has done, we've made news," Chadwick said. "I told our guys that everyone knows they're No. 2 in the nation, everyone knows they won the SEC and the SEC tournament. Everyone knows they got a raw deal. Now we have to use this as a way to get better."

Chadwick believes the travel scenario has created a renewed focus in a team he says is peaking only now in spite of its 17 straight wins.

The Rebels' last loss, ironically, was 4-3 against Baylor - the other traveling top seed - in Waco, Texas, on Feb. 27.

"The most important thing now is that we keep the momentum we've created over the season," senior Bram ten Berge said. "We seem to have found the right formula, and we're sticking together as a team. We don't have the easiest draw.

"Everyone realizes this, but as a team, sticking together and fighting for one another, we may be the best out there. I think we can go a long way."

Senior Jonas Berg and ten Berge are 16-9 at No. 1 doubles, 8-3 in the SEC, and ranked No. 1 in the country.

Ole Miss has beaten LSU twice this season, including a 5-2 decision in Baton Rouge on April 10 in which the Rebels lost the doubles point. Ole Miss later eliminated LSU from the SEC tournament with a 4-2 win in the quarterfinal round.

The regional winner in Baton Rouge will likely face Texas Aamp&M on its home court in the round of 16.

Women's NCAA tournament

The Rebels (14-9) are making their 12th appearance but first since 2005.

Ole Miss closed the regular season by winning four of its last six matches and reached the semifinals of the SEC tournament.

All-SEC performers Kristi Boxx and Karen Nijssen are ranked 16th in doubles, and Nijssen has won six straight matches at No. 2 singles.

Denver (16-5) presents a challenge at No. 1 singles where Mallory Voelker is 20-1.