Texas Tech University Athletics
Red Raiders Look For Needed Wins in Home Opener
February 26, 2009 | Men's Tennis
Feb. 26, 2009
LUBBOCK, Texas - After splitting two matches last weekend, the Texas Tech men's tennis team hosts its home opener this weekend, facing No. 32 TCU at 1 p.m. Sat., Feb. 28, and New Mexico State at 10 a.m. Sun., March 1, at the McLeod Tennis Center.
The Red Raiders enter the weekend reeling from a disappointing 4-3 loss to then No. 40-ranked Arizona last Friday, but were able to rebound the following day to defeat No. 50 San Diego, 4-3, to improve to 2-3 on the season.
TCU edged the Red Raiders last season, winning 4-3 in Fort Worth, while Tech was able to down New Mexico State, 6-1, in Las Cruces, N.M.
Tech, ranked No. 29 in the latest Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) rankings, is only 2-27 all-time against the Horned Frogs with its last victory coming in 2005. New Mexico State, on the other hand, has historically had difficulty beating the Red Raiders as Tech holds a 22-4 all-time record against the Aggies.
The Red Raiders have struggled with consistency for the most part of this season as Milos Kustudija is the only player with fewer than two duals losses in singles. The same could be said in doubles as all three of Tech's regular duos have at least two losses.
In the latest ITA rankings released on February 19, freshman Raony Carvlaho was ranked at No. 19 in singles, while he and partner Christian Rojmar were selected No. 16 in doubles.
TCU enters this weekend with a 2-5 record with all five losses coming to nationally-ranked opponents, including four to Big 12 Conference schools (Texas, Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Oklahoma State). The Horned Frogs were able to defeat then-ranked No. 17 Tulsa last weekend on the road.
In singles, the Horned Frogs have been led by No. 68-ranked Emanu Brighiu, who is 2-4 in the No. 1 slot, and Kriegler Bring, who is a combined 6-1 after splitting time at the No. 2 and 3 positions. Brighiu and Adrian Simon lead TCU in doubles with a 3-4 duals record and a No. 32 national ranking.
The Aggies are off to a 7-1 start, the school's best under longtime head coach Don Bell, who is entering his 24th season with the Aggies. New Mexico State has played only one match against a ranked opponent this season, a 4-3 victory at then-No. 72 UNLV at the start of February.
Roman Stoisavljevic and Eduardo Salas lead the Aggies in doubles with a 4-1 overall record and a No. 56 national ranking. In singles, Jim Brouleau, Gustave Diep and Stoisavljevic are a combined 14-3, playing primarily the No. 1, 2 and 3 postions.
The Red Raiders return to the road next weekend, traveling to Corpus Christi, Texas, for the H.E.B. Invitational on March 6-7. Tech's next home match at the McLeod Tennis Center is March 27 against Lamar.
Players Mentioned
