Texas Tech University Athletics
Men's Tennis Faces Oklahoma In First Round
April 25, 2001 | Men's Tennis
April 25, 2001
WACO, Texas -- The 2001 regular season brought unexpected tragedies to the Texas Tech men's tennis squad. The Red Raiders lost four of its top six players throughout the season. Tech heads into the Big 12 Tourney wounded, but on high notes. The No. 8-seeded Red Raiders are 6-15 overall and 1-7 in league play and will battle No. 9 seeded Oklahoma at 9 a.m. on Thursday, April 26 in Waco, Texas, at the Baylor Tennis Center.
"We had a tough year with all the injuries, but I am pleased with the way our team has reacted by keeping a positive attitude and battling tough every time we hit the court," said eighth-year head coach Tim Siegel. "We beat Oklahoma earlier this year at home which gives us some confidence, but we have to play our best in order to win."
The Raiders will be without No. 4 player John Walker who has been diagnosed with three blood clots in his arm. Walker will return next fall, but is projected to be out for three months. Royce Ramey who played in the No. 1 or 2 position throughout the year tore his rotator cuff and will return next year. Patricio Espinosa and Clay Estes who both battled in the top part of the line-up left the team due to personal reasons.
Against Oklahoma the Red Raiders are 1-0 this year making the all-time record under Coach Siegel 4-2. The last time Tech fell to the Sooners was April 5, 1998 at Oklahoma, 5-2. With the win this year against Oklahoma, Siegel earned his career 100th-victory at Texas Tech.
Tech will receive ammunition from Richard Crabtree and Ben Gudzelak in the No. 1 doubles position. The deadly combo leads the Big 12 in the No. 1 position with a 6-2 doubles record. The duo has won seven out of the past eight.
In singles action, Crabtree leads the squad by posting a 11-9 overall record and 2-6 in league play. He is currently on a two-match conference win streak after defeating opponents from Colorado and Nebraska.
The winner of the Tech/Oklahoma match will compete at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, April 27th, against No. 1 seeded Texas A&M at the Baylor Tennis Center. Tech fell to the Aggies earlier this year in College Station, Texas, 7-0.
