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Tennis
team defeats Rice The No. 2-ranked men’s tennis team heard that top-ranked UCLA lost its first match of the season moments before its own match against conference-rival Rice on Saturday. “It was great news to us that UCLA lost,” senior Esteban Carril said. “The team was very excited about the possibility of being No. 1, but we also tried to not get too excited and to concentrate on Rice.” That they did, as TCU defeated the 38th-ranked Owls, 6-1, to open up Western Athletic Conference play. The Horned Frogs started the match slow, dropping the doubles point. But the squad regrouped by picking up all six singles matches. Head coach Joey Rive said he was worried with the way the team started. “We were flat, and there was no joy on the court from our guys,” he said. “I have always told this team to play hard, instead of protecting our ranking, but I think Esteban (Carril) gave us a huge boast by quickly winning his singles match.” Carril, who is ranked fourth in the nation, defeated 67th-ranked Richard Barker in straight sets at the No. 1 position, improving his record to 22-5 and extending his winning streak to 12 matches. “That match was probably my best match of the season,” Carril said. “I wanted to come out strong and break (Barker’s) serve. I did not want to leave any room for error.” Senior Trace Fielding, who is ranked 54th in the nation, said Rice started the match energetic and ready to play. “They came out fired up for us, mainly because of our ranking and since we are a conference opponent,” Fielding said. “This was a wake-up call, but the most important thing was that we did not take them for granted.” Fielding said he enjoys when opposing teams play at a top level against the Frogs. “It helps to play when your opponents don’t like you at all,” Fielding said. “We feed off the feeling that they hate us because of our high ranking.” With a loss to Stanford, UCLA dropped to 17-1 on the season but holds a key edge over TCU with its 4-2 win in the semifinal round of the USTA/ITA Team Indoor Championships Feb. 17 in Seattle, Wash. Despite that edge, Rive said there is still a chance for the Frogs to be ranked No. 1. “We might be No. 1, and we might not be,” he said. “I don’t think that is a priority, because the real season starts with the (NCAA) tournament, but it would be great for our players, especially the seniors.” Fielding said it would be a dream come true to end their final three home matches as the top-ranked team in the nation. “It would be great for all the seniors to end their careers with a No. 1 ranking,” Fielding said. “It would be especially tremendous for our fans, because we want to give something back to them for all their support during the past four years.” The team will know if they are ranked No. 1 in the WingspanBank.com ranking Wednesday, well in time for its next match against 43rd-ranked Tulsa at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at the Bayard H. Friedman Tennis Center.
Ram Luthra |