MEN'S TENNIS: Weekend serves up Buckeyes, Wildcats
By RACHEL BIBER
Sports Writer
With two matches ahead of them this weekend, the Irish men's players are shooting for nothing less than two more wins.
Following a huge win over Duke on Tuesday to improve to 4-1, Notre Dame will host 24th-ranked Ohio State on Friday before heading to Northwestern for a battle against the 46th-ranked Wildcats on Sunday.
The 10th-ranked Irish, who fell three spots in the newly released Intercollegiate Tennis Association rankings, know the goal of escaping their next two matches unscathed will be tough.
"They are both good teams," Irish player Javier Taborga said. "Ohio State is going to be a big challenge for us. They have an experienced team and last year we had a tough victory at Ohio State. Northwestern is dangerous. Although they are weaker than Ohio State, they have the home court advantage and it is a great chance for them to play against a top ten team. I am sure they will be ready for us."
If history repeats itself, then the Irish have nothing to worry about when they match up against Ohio State, as Notre Dame has swept the Buckeyes in their last 13 meetings, dating all the way back to 1988. However, Ohio State has raced to a 3-0 start this season, beating each team 7-0 without dropping a set.
Irish head coach Bob Bayliss is wary, and knows Ohio State is underrated.
"We're ready for the kind of challenge they're going to give us," Bayliss said. "They're very good. They're ranked 24th, but they're better than that, and I think everyone knows that. We'll just prepare and get ready for another one."
Northwestern has also started the season with an unblemished record, standing 3-0 on the season. With a strong early season start combined with a brand new tennis facility, the Wildcats will have an added home-field advantage against the Irish. Big crowds are expected for the weekend encounter, as the Wildcats will dedicate the new facility during the match against the Irish with big tennis names, such as Northwestern alum and tennis star Todd Martin, making an appearance.
The Irish are not concerned about the added hype surrounding the match against Northwestern, but are cautious, knowing that the Wildcats will come out strong.
"Northwestern will be a very competitive team," Taborga said. "Last year we played well and it was still a close match. Now, we have to go there and play in a brand new facility and they have nothing to lose."
Notre Dame defeated the Wildcats when they met last year, and the Irish have won six of the last seven meetings against Northwestern. The all-time series between the schools is tied at 34-34.
No matter what team Notre Dame plays, there are areas in which they need to improve in order to become a mainstay in the top 10. One major part of the team's game that needs attention is doubles.
"As far as practice goes, we definitely need to improve our doubles and we will work on them over the week," Taborga said. "We also need to keep getting better at the top of the lineup. To get to a higher level and be a solid top ten team, we need to win 80 percent of the doubles matches and learn to play under pressure. We need to be able to take the challenge and play tough when the matches get tight."
All Sports Stories for Friday, February 1, 2002
