It was around this time of the year last season when the Oregon men’s tennis team made its historic stretch run into the NCAA Tournament.
It was two upset wins against the Arizona schools that vaulted the Ducks into the national spotlight and put them into serious postseason contention.
The Ducks look to duplicate such success when they head to Tempe, Ariz., today for a 1:30 p.m. match with No. 30-ranked Arizona State. They then play No. 48 Arizona in Tucson on Saturday, the first of five straight Pacific-10 Conference road matches.
The 2001 Ducks are in a state similar to last year’s, with a record just below the .500 mark and only two wins over top-100 ranked teams.
Oregon needs victories this weekend at Arizona and Arizona State if it wishes to be considered for the NCAA Tournament and to gain momentum for tougher Pac-10 Conference matches later in the season.
The odds won’t be in Oregon’s favor though. The Ducks are coming off a tough southern road trip in which they dropped all three matches.
Oregon will need ace Oded Teig to be at the top of his game if it is to earn an upset. Last season, the sophomore clinched the 4-3 Arizona upset with his 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 singles win over the Wildcats’ Michel Stopa. Teig also teamed with former Duck Thomas Schneiter for two key doubles wins last season.
Teig (18-12) will face Arizona State’s No. 57 Nic Dubey and Arizona’s Steven Capriati.