The UCLA men’s tennis team has had quite the season.
It boasts a No. 3 ranking as well as 11 wins and a lone blemish in the loss column to a now-No. 5 Duke squad. By all accounts, it’s been an impressive year for the Bruins thus far, and yet they still find themselves playing the role of David in their match today at the Los Angeles Tennis Center.
Goliath arrives to the match showing off his No. 1 ranking, which he has retained for the past five ranking cycles. Even scarier is the fact that he has won the past three national championships and is the crosstown rival of UCLA.
USC brings to the table as impressive a resume as it gets. The team is 13-0 on the season and carries a 33-match winning streak dating back to last season.
However, UCLA has generated some momentum of its own. The Bruins are coming off a 7-0 shutout victory over the St. Mary’s Gaels on their home court.
“This match was important because it got us back on our home court. It got us a win on our home turf,” redshirt senior Nick Meister said.
“We just threw ourselves back in the competition and that’s how we’re going to feel comfortable when it comes down to USC.”
Coach Billy Martin agreed that the win Saturday was critical in helping UCLA build some confidence going into the matchup against USC.
“We absolutely needed this match before our match against USC (today), so I thought we looked fairly sharp and our doubles looked pretty good,” Martin said.
“It was all about everyone feeling good about themselves and getting a little confidence going into the match against USC.”
The Bruins faced the Trojans twice last season and suffered losses in both matches, but look to slingshot themselves back into the national title race this year with a win today.
Compiled by Chris Nguyen, Bruin Sports senior staff.