A light schedule of action last week gives way to a much more intensified version this week as Big West teams square off against reanked opponents, especially on the men's side. No. 47 UC Irvine and Cal Poly both travel to the Boise State Spring Break Classic looking to topple ranked foes.
NOTEWORTHY
Men’s Teams Face Ranked Competition This Week
A plethora of ranked competition is on tap this week for Big West men’s tennis teams. All six squads are in action in a mix of home and away matches. Pacific, which has played 10 of its last 11 matches on the road, continues the traveling theme as the Tigers visit No. 25 Denver on Sunday and Air Force on Monday. In the midst of a six-match homestand, UC Santa Barbara faces its third straight non-conference ranked opponent when No. 31 Brigham Young invades the Central Coast on Friday. The Gauchos close out the homestand against Dartmouth Sunday.
Delving further into the schedule, Cal Poly and UC Irvine are representing the Big West at the tough Boise State Spring Break Classic. The Mustangs open up against No. 71 Purdue and potentially could meet the host No. 52-ranked Broncos in their next match. The Anteaters begin Classic play against Cornell and will play either No. 63 Idaho or Ball State in the following round. Prior to the start of the tournament, UCI squares off against Boise State in a non-conference battle, marking the fifth non-conference ranked opponent the Anteaters will have faced this season. UCI is 11-4 on the year and owner of a No. 47 ranking in the latest Intercollegiate Tennis Association poll.
Non-conference men’s tennis battles also include UC Riverside traveling to Saint Mary’s and UC Davis hosting Eastern Washington. The Aggies are seeing their first action in three weeks after going on hiatus for spring exams.
Long Beach State Knocks Off Another Ranked Foe
First place Long Beach State has vaulted up to No. 36 in the most recent ITA rankings after winning 12 of its last 14 matches. The only setbacks during that stretch were to No. 18 Washington and No. 45 Ohio State. In the meantime, LBSU has picked up four victories against ranked opponents, the most recent triumph against No. 42 Nebraska last week. The 49ers conclude an 11-match homestand against Washington State on Thursday.
Doubles Point Setting Cal Poly Up Nicely
Cal Poly made a huge leap into the national rankings this week, appearing at No. 52 following a season-high seven-match winning streak. That streak ended in a 6-1 loss at No. 11 Stanford on Sunday, but the Mustangs put up a good fight. A key reason for the Mustangs’ 12-3 record this year is the ability to capture the doubles point to start out a match. Cal Poly has won the doubles point in 13 of its 15 contests, but failed to do so against Stanford. The No. 1 duo of Brittany Blalock and Suzie Matzenauer has won eight straight dual matches.
A crucial match is looming for both Cal Poly and Long Beach State as the 49ers (5-0) travel to San Luis Obispo to face the 5-1 Mustangs on Friday, April 2.
Bottom Of Lineup Effective For Gauchos
UC Santa Barbara could be dangerous come Big West Championship time, especially if the bottom of the lineup continues performing at a high level. The Nos. 4-6 positions have won in five straight matches. Bryanna Ojeda, the No. 6 singles player, is 10-0 on the season.
Indian Wells To Host Big West Tennis Championships
For the seventh straight year, Indian Wells Tennis Garden is hosting the Big West Men’s and Women’s Tennis Championship. One of the most prestigious facilities in the United States, Indian Wells will host the six men’s and nine women’s teams from April 29-May 2. The Long Beach State women and UC Santa Barbara men took home the 2009 crowns. The 49ers have won all six previous years the championship has been in Indian Wells, while the Gauchos have captured four straight titles on the men’s side.