A season’s worth of hard-fought victories, nail-biting defeats, tough injuries and inclement weather will come to realization as both the Oregon men’s and women’s tennis teams compete in first-round action of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday.
It’s the first time since the 1999-2000 season that both the men and the women will compete in the tournament in the same season.
The women will not have to travel far; they will face New Mexico in their first round matchup in Seattle.
Head coach Nils Schyllander said his team has been making the most of the time off before the tournament.
“We’re resting, but were also concentrating on a lot of fitness,” Schyllander said.
The 32nd-ranked Ducks should face a challenge against the No. 31 Lobos. New Mexico has dominated doubles play so far this season, compiling a 90-17 record. The Lobos’ doubles play is led by the No. 8 duo of Mountain West Conference Player of the Year sophomore Maja Kovacek and senior Sandy Lukowski. That pair is 30-7 this season.
Oregon will counter with a balanced attack at the singles and doubles positions. The Ducks have compiled an above .500 record at all six singles positions and three doubles positions. They will be led by the one-two punch of No. 12 Daria Panova and No. 71 Dominika Dieskova. The two have combined for 52 victories this season, the most by any combo in Oregon history.
Panova says that, as a team, the Ducks have a good chance of advancing and possibly facing rival Washington.
“I think we’re on the right track,” Panova said. “We just need to make sure everybody shows up on the same day.”

Men face NCAA runner-up
The Oregon men’s tennis team will travel to Oxford, Miss., for its first-round NCAA Tournament match against a Vanderbilt team that lost in the NCAA Championship match last year.
Head coach Chris Russell knows many people don’t see his team getting past the No. 22 Commodores.
“On paper, we’re the underdog,” Russell said. “They have a good team with experience.”
The Ducks believe this isn’t only Oregon versus Vanderbilt; but rather, a matchup of the Pacific-10 Conference against the Southeastern Conference.
“Both teams feel they come from the best tennis conference in the country,” Russell said. “We’re going into the middle of SEC country and playing in an SEC environment. Hopefully we can prove that the Pac-10 is the best.”
Oregon’s Markus Schiller, a transfer from Auburn — a fellow SEC school — knows from firsthand experience what the environment is going to be like.
“It’s crazy, very hostile and they don’t respect the other players at all,” Schiller said.
Weather and humidity differences could also challenge the Ducks, but team members have been practicing in sweats to simulate the Mississippi heat.
“It’s supposed to be cooling off, so hopefully that won’t be too much of a factor,” Russell said.
Oregon hopes to counter the hostile environment with their tough singles play. The Ducks will be led into battle with what is now being called the “Swiss Army.” The group includes Swiss natives Sven Swinnen, Manuel Kost and 6-foot-6-inch Thomas Bieri. Swinnen is ranked 16th in the nation and Kost is 66th.
Both Swinnen and Kost have knocked off top-10 opponents this year and Bieri looks to be on the brink of coming into his own.
Russell believes the key for his team is coming out strong and combating the SEC environment.
“Everybody in the SEC comes out with fire and are fearless,” Russell said. “If we can match that fearlessness and be willing to take this match from Vandy, we will have a good chance.”