Texas Tech University Athletics
Men's Tennis Faces Tough Tests in Arizona State, Arizona
February 22, 2000 | Men's Tennis
Feb. 22, 2000
LUBBOCK, Texas - Texas Tech men's tennis coach Tim Siegel takes his team to the Arizona desert this week for a pair of matches against PAC-10 powerhouses Arizona State and Arizona. The two matches mark the first of five consecutive matches against nationally ranked opponents.
"These next five matches are crucial for us," Siegel said. "We play two ranked teams on the road. Arizona State was ranked as high as No. 10 in the nation last year and Arizona, even though they are ranked 56th, beat Rice(No. 40) last week very easily."
The Raiders, currently ranked No. 31 in the nation, face Arizona State in Tempe on Wednesday, February 24 at 11 a.m. (CST). They then travel to Tucson for the match against Arizona the next day (11 a.m., CST) The back-to-back games against nationally ranked foes could set the tone for the rest of the season.
"I'm more concerned with us playing hard and playing well than with getting the victory," Siegel said. "I think if we can play hard the victories will come, but we need to get into the frame of mind now that we are one of the best teams in the country and from here on out we play nothing but the best in the country. Pretty much every team we play from here on out is a top 50 team."
The schedule doesn't get any easier for the Red Raiders who face three top 60 opponents in the H.E.B. Invitational March 3-5 in Corpus Christi. Tech will go up against William & Mary University, University of Washington and Nevada Las-Vegas. The Red Raiders will end the murderous stretch with a home match against Big 12 rival Texas, currently ranked No. 20 in the nation, on March 11.
"All the teams between No. 20 and No. 60 in the ITA poll are so good, anyone can beat anyone on a given day," Siegel said. "The next two weeks will be a real proving time for us."
