February 22, 2008
After nearly a two-week break from competition, the 25th-ranked Texas A&M men?â„¢s tennis team gets back into action with a top 25 battle scheduled against No. 18 LSU on Saturday, Feb. 23 at the W.T. ?Dub? Robinson Tennis Stadium in Baton Rouge, La.
First serve between the Aggies (3-2) and Tigers (3-1) is scheduled for 1 p.m. A&M continues a tough four-game road stretch which includes playing the likes of No. 10 Duke on Feb. 29 in Durham, N.C. and No. 16 Florida State on March 2 in Tallahassee, Fla. The Aggies look to rebound from a 5-2 loss at then-No. 25 Tulsa on Feb. 10.
Returning All-Big 12 Conference standout Conor Pollock (San Antonio, Texas) is ranked No. 27 nationally in singles in the latest ITA/FILA Collegiate Tennis Rankings released this week. Pollock has put together a solid 4-1 dual match record this season at the No. 1 line. He and doubles partner Austin Krajicek (Brandon, Fla.) also made their debut in the national rankings as the 22nd-best doubles tandem in the nation. They have compiled an undefeated 4-0 mark in doubles play this year.
Texas A&M head coach Steve Denton says the doubles point will play a major factor in the team?â„¢s upcoming road matches. A&M is 1-4 this season in doubles with its lone doubles victory coming against Washington on Feb. 3.
Over the years, a regional rivalry with LSU has developed and has become one of the most anticipated matchups year after year. The Aggies have lost the last three meetings between the two schools as the Tigers hold a one-match lead in the all-time series, 10-9. Last spring, then-No. 13-ranked LSU won the last match standing at No. 6 singles to pull out the 4-3 victory in College Station. A&M last beat the Tigers in 2003.
?Last year?â„¢s match against LSU was close, but we had a chance to win in doubles,? Denton said. ?In order to have a chance to win this year, doubles are going to be key for us. We?â„¢ve worked really hard on our doubles play during the break. We have to turn it around, if we?â„¢re going to have a successful season. We will put major emphasis on doubles, because we know it will be a close one. LSU is a very good SEC team that is obviously tough to play at home, so we will have to play well to beat them.?
Mother Nature has caused havoc in the Bayou as LSU had to cancel its most recent match against No. 32 Clemson on Thursday due to rain. It was the fifth match this season that the Tigers had to postpone due to inclement weather and no indoor facility. Two years ago, the Aggies?â„¢ match at LSU was suspended due to rain.
LSU?â„¢s top player Michael Venus is currently ranked No. 70 nationally in singles, while teammates Kevin Dessauer and Jan Zelezny are listed at No. 57 in doubles. The Tigers have won two of their last three matches including sweeps of Southern Mississippi and Southern on Feb. 17.
Live match statistics will be available via the LSU athletic department website at: www.lsusports.net.
Future Pros?...Freshmen Austin Krajicek, Wil Spencer (Ponce de Leon, Fla.) and Kayvon Karimi (Dallas, Texas) used the time off to compete as amateurs in the USTA Futures Circuit tournament held in Brownsville, Texas. Krajicek received a wild card entry into the main draw and lost in the first round to top-seeded Kevin Anderson, 6-4, 6-4. Anderson was a three-time All-American at Illinois and is currently ranked No. 188 in the ATP Rankings. Spencer and Karimi played in the qualifying draw along with former A&M player Bryan Wooten (2004-06). Karimi advanced to the second round with a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Canadian Denis Limitovski, but later fell to Russian Alexei Grigorov, 6-3, 6-0. Grigorov is currently ranked among the top 9 in the ITF junior rankings. Meanwhile, Spencer lost in straight sets to American Joe Epkey, 6-3, 6-2. ?It was a good experience for all of our young players and they were really challenged by 60-mile hour winds,? Denton said. ?To be able to play under those kind of conditions, shows their ability to adjust and withstand the elements.?