Texas Tech University Athletics
Men's Tennis Announces 2007-08 Schedule
July 17, 2007 | Men's Tennis
July 17, 2007
LUBBOCK, Texas - After a successful 2007 campaign, the Texas Tech men's tennis team looks to yet another challenging schedule in 2008. Ranked No. 33 in the latest ITA/FILA poll, the Red Raiders begin fall tournament play on September 17, 2007, as they will host the third annual Van Hubbard $50,000 Lubbock Challenger at the McLeod Tennis Center.
Last year at the Lubbock Challenger tennis fans saw some of the top tennis players in the world compete, including Tech's Bojan Szumanski who received a wild card into the tournament. The competition also had 10 who competed in the 2006 U.S. Open, including Sam Querrey who claimed the 2006 championship.
Using fall play to prepare for dual matches in the spring, the Red Raiders' will compete individually on the road beginning on September 20, 2007, in Waco, Texas at the Baylor Invitational. Following are the series of ITA indoor tournaments, including the Polo/Ralph Lauren All-American in Tulsa, Okla., the Midland Raquet Club Invite in Midland, Texas, and the ITA Regionals in Austin, Texas. Last year Tech's Szumanski had an impressive showing as he clinched championships at both the Midland Raquet Club Invite and the ITA Regionals resulting in an automatic bid to the ITA Indoor Championships, the first time in school history in these events.
In the spring the team is scheduled to face 11 opponents who ended last season in the top 60 of the ITA/FILA national rankings. This does not, however, include opponents to be played at both the annual HEB Invitational in Corpus Christi, Texas, and the renowned Blue-Gray Tennis Classic in Montgomery, Ala. Tech will begin dual action on January 26, 2008, as the team hosts their first three matches against Texas-Pan American, Lamar and Abilene Christian.
"It is my goal every year to have a tough non-conference schedule," said head Coach Tim Siegel. "We compete in one of the strongest conferences in college tennis, and tough matches early in the season are beneficial down the road as they help us both in the rankings and in the running for a berth to the NCAA tournament."
Among the heavy hitters Tech will face in the upcoming season, six hail from the Big 12 alone. No. 4 Baylor leads the conference, followed by No. 11 Oklahoma State, No. 12 Texas, No. 26 Oklahoma, No. 31 Texas A&M, No. 33 Texas Tech and No. 56 Nebraska. The Raiders are set to open Big 12 play at home as they host Texas A&M on March 23, 2007, at the McLeod Tennis Center.
For more information and a complete schedule, visit www.texastech.com.
Players Mentioned
