Men’s tennis playing with a healthy squad for only the second time
Taking the season series for the second straight year is on the line when the Utah State men’s tennis team travels to Ogden to play Weber State on Wednesday at 2 p.m.
For the second straight season, the series between the two schools is tied at one apiece, but unlike the two previous matches this year, the Aggies will have a full squad – for only the second time this season.
“I think we should win, because this will be the first time we play them completely healthy,” said Aggie Brandon Butler. “So hopefully pushing everyone back a spot, the matchups will still work as they should.”
Utah State (5-10) was without the services of Jason Trask and Hannes Schenk in WSU’s 4-3 win Feb. 16 in Las Vegas, and was without Jonah Nelson and Schenk in USU’s 5-2 victory March 5 in North Logan.
However, if the Aggies want to take the season series they’ll have to do it in Ogden. On the other hand, USU won the series-deciding match in Wildcat country a year ago.
“It’s always a match we get up for,” said USU Head Coach Chris Wright. “It will be a battle, but I like our chances.”
While the Aggies go into Wednesday’s match with a lot of confidence after beating Montana in their last match, Wright said his team knows it’s in for a tough outing against Weber State.
After all, in USU’s March 5 victory over WSU, two of the Aggies’ four singles victories went to three sets, and the other matches were decided by a break of serve or two a set. The Aggies were just able to play with a little more poise, Wright said.
Nevertheless, the Aggies can take solace in the fact they are as healthy as they have been all season. Wright said since the team was healthy enough, he wished the squad would have played a week ago.
“I wish we had a match last week. I don’t like having that big of a gap,” he said about the Aggies not playing since March 26.
USU’s gap isn’t near as big as that of the Wildcats (2-6), however. Weber State hasn’t played a match since dropping a 4-2 decision to defending Big Sky Conference champion Sacramento State on March 15.
In fact, WSU has only played one other match, a 7-0 shutout loss to Ball State, since its last match against the Aggies.
When the Aggies take the court come Wednesday, one thing is for certain: It will be one of the few occasions USU will have played outside at a high elevation this season.
“I wish the weather was different. We really haven’t had the chance to get outside since [playing in] California, but we’ll be able to make the adjustment,” Wright said. “We just have to make a couple of adjustments.”
Adjustments, Butler said, will not be a problem, and may big a bigger problem for the Wildcats because they prefer the faster pace the indoor courts generate.
“I think, for Weber, that they’re a better indoor team because they hit big shots,” he said. “So, I think it should help us, if anything.”
Following the Weber State match, the Aggies will return to action Friday when they host Northern Arizona at 1 p.m. at the Sports Academy.
-jasonwturner@cc.usu.edu