Dawgs battle birds in Oregon
February 27, 2004
What a difference a game can make.
The No. 18 men's Husky tennis team dropped eight spots in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association rankings this week because of last weekend's controversial 4-3 upset loss to No. 39 Fresno State. And this weekend's matches won't get any easier for the Huskies.
Tomorrow at 2 p.m. the 8-2 Huskies will face their toughest opponents so far this season when they travel to Oregon to face one of the hottest teams in collegiate tennis, the No. 8 Rice Owls. Sunday at 2 p.m. they take on No. 60 Oregon.
The undefeated Owls have had success against high-ranking teams. With five wins over teams ranked in the top 40 and wins over No. 3 Stanford and No. 11 California, Rice has become used to taking on high-caliber competition.
The 45th-ranked doubles combination of Alex Vlaski and Alex Slovich will take on the second-ranked doubles pair of Richard and William Barker. The two Owl senior brothers' play has been one of the catalysts of success for red-hot Rice. Overall, they are 17-2 this season.
Husky Coach Matt Anger said his doubles team is hungry for a win.
"Our guys are really starting to become a really good doubles team. I think it's going to be really good for us ... to see if we can really sink our teeth into it ourselves, and see where we are with the doubles," said Anger.
All-American Vlaski is optimistic about the team's chances against the Owls.
"They are really tough but it is a great opportunity for us. I feel like we can beat them," said Vlaski.
Sunday the Huskies will be taking a less capable opponent when they take on the 6-1 Ducks in Eugene. The lone Duck loss this season came to Boise State, which the Huskies shut out 4-0 earlier this year. Only one Oregon player is ranked in the top 100.
Anger said when his team faces Oregon the event is "always a fun match."
"They really get up for that," he said, referring to both teams' intensity toward the rivalry.
The Huskies have an all-time advantage of 106-5-1 against the Ducks.
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