Posted: Mar 08, 2018
SANTA CLARA, Calif. – With last weekend's match at Cal Poly postponed due to inclement weather, the Santa Clara men's tennis team will be well rested as it travels to Fresno State to take on the Bulldogs on Saturday at 1 p.m. PT.
"Regarding the layoff, I thought we did a really good job when we had a similar situation at the start of February when we used those two weeks to prepare and work on some things and we've done the same again this week," said Broncos head coach Niall Angus. "The team got a break so they're feeling fresh and excited to play so that'll add to our favor. But I think the most important thing is having a good week of practice this week."
With a pair of home wins on Feb. 24 and 25 against Grand Canyon and Sacramento State, the team is riding an eight-match winning streak. The Broncos will look to extend the streak against the Bulldogs (8-8).
"The last couple of matches against Fresno State, we've had tough battles with them. Last year, we beat them 4-3 at home and it was 5-2 in our favor in 2016 but it was a close match. So going to Fresno State this weekend, they're going to want their chance at some payback," said Angus.
The Broncos (8-2) are 20-7 in doubles play this season to go along with their 44-11 singles record. Junior Andrew Gu is leading the way posting team best records playing on court No.1 in both doubles and singles. In doubles, Gu is 8-1 teaming up with fellow junior Robert Seby. Gu is undefeated in singles at 8-0.
Playing on court No. 2, Vasileios Iliopoulos and Jesus Tapiador Barajas have teamed up for a 7-2 doubles records.
Barajas and Connor Garnett are both 7-1 in singles play for the second best records on the team.
Fresno State has lost its last three matches, losing to Arizona State 4-2 and Arizona 4-3 in the Blue Gray Tennis Classic in Montgomery, Alabama on Feb. 24. The Bulldogs played Arizona again on March 4, losing 6-1.
