Friday, January 30, 1998
Upcoming Bruin victory forseen by the numbers
M. TENNIS: If history is a marker, UCLA will sweep through
Arizona
By Stephanie Chan
Daily Bruin Contributor
The UCLA men’s tennis team has posted two magic scores early
this season, 5-2 and 7-0. Coincidence or not, these are the same
two scores that they posted last year against the Pac-10’s two
Arizona schools.
In last season’s Pac-10 opener, UCLA dropped the bomb on
Arizona, 7-0, and secured the defeat of Arizona State, 5-2.
When UCLA headed for the desert to play the Arizona schools on
the road, the rabbit was pulled out of the hat again.
This time it was the Bruins over the Sun Devils, 7-0, over the
Wildcats, 5-2.
Whatever the score, the Bruins are looking to extend their
record to 5-0 this weekend with victories over No. 61 Arizona on
Friday and No. 43 Arizona State on Saturday.
"They’re always good; they’re always competitive matches," said
UCLA head coach Billy Martin of the two Arizona schools.
Anticipating this match against the Bruins, the Wildcats played
two exhibition matches last weekend. They earned a split, defeating
College of the Desert, 4-3, and emerging a victim of a San Diego
State sweep.
The same San Diego State played victim to the Bruins in their
first match of the season. The score? The notorious 5-2.
Between both the Arizona schools sits only one ranked player,
Arizona State’s No. 71 Gustavo Marcaccio. Ranked regionally are
Arizona’s No. 13 Michel Stopa and Arizona State’s No. 17 Marcaccio,
No. 24 Alex Osterrieth, and No. 26 Ed Carter.
The Sun Devils opened their 1998 season with a 2-5 loss to No. 9
Florida. This Saturday’s match against UCLA will be their Pac-10
opener.
Last season’s final Pac-10 standings placed Arizona State 4th
and Arizona 6th.