The 41st-ranked Oregon women’s tennis team jumps back into action at home this weekend in a match that will not count toward the conference standings against No. 55 Washington State.
Oregon (6-2 overall) beat the Cougars 4-3 when the two teams last met in April 2006, but matches between the schools have traditionally been very close.
“Washington State is a good team, and is coming off a tough weekend down at the Arizonas,” Oregon women’s coach Paul Reber said. “They lost both matches but had a couple of tight ones, and the match before that, they beat Sacramento State 4-3, whom we lost to.
“So we definitely have our work cut out for us, and we’re just gonna come out and give it our best shot.”
The rivalry between the two schools has grown to the point that the players all know each others’ games pretty well.
Duck sophomore Carmen Seremeta, who has played No. 3 singles for the Ducks this season, is anticipating a match against the Cougars’ Marjolein van de Ven again this weekend.
Seremeta has a 3-0 head-to-head record against van de Ven, but two of the three matches were decided in the final set.
“I like playing her, and I know how to play her now,” Seremeta said. “Her balls go high and are easier to take indoors. You don’t have to worry about the elements.”
The Ducks play the Cougars on Saturday at noon at the Student Tennis Center.
Oregon men’s tennis
The Duck men are on the road for the second weekend in the row.
Oregon (7-3 overall) goes up against the 15th-ranked Huskies (7-1 overall) on Friday and then takes on No. 50 San Diego State in two non-conference dual matches.
The Ducks broke into the ITA rankings for the first time as a team on the Feb. 13 rankings, and are now No. 75.
With the return of sophomore Gustavo Loza and freshman Ric Mortera to the lineup, the Ducks split a pair of duals in California last weekend.
Loza was relatively ineffective last weekend, but Oregon men’s coach and Director of Tennis Nils Schyllander is optimistic about his progress this week.
“Guz was a little rusty last weekend because he hadn’t played in a while,” Schyllander said, “So he just needed to get out there and start playing matches again.”
Two extra healthy bodies in the lineup means more competition for everyone.
Senior Eric Pickard – who has played number six singles for most of the season – says everyone is still very much in the running for any of the starting spots.
“I think the more people we have the better because it gives us as many options as possible,” Pickard said. “Right now, as far as I can tell, we’re seeing how things are working out still.
“There’s no lock on any spot.”
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