Fresno State Athletics
No. 35 Fresno State Plays Two on the Road
4/5/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
April 5, 2004
Weekly Notes
Download Free Acrobat Reader
Match #18: #35 Fresno State (11-6) at UC Santa Barbara (9-6)
Friday, April 9 | 1:30 p.m. | Santa Barbara, Calif.
Match #19: #35 Fresno State (11-6) at #27 Pepperdine (14-7)
Saturday, April 10 | 1 p.m. | Ralphs-Straus Tennis Center | Malibu, Calif.
What's Coming Up
Fresno State (11-6) begins its stretch drive this week with two matches on the road. The 35th-ranked Bulldogs take on UC Santa Barbara on Friday at 1:30 p.m. before traveling to Malibu, Calif., for a match against No. 27 Pepperdine at 1 p.m. Fresno State has won four in a row.
What Just Happened
Following an 18-day rest period, Fresno State returned to the court on Sunday and swept a doubleheader. In the opener, the Bulldogs knocked off Division II UC San Diego 6-1, then backed that up by breezing past Division II UC Davis 6-1. Fresno State entered having not played a match since March 16 but easily improved to 9-0 on the year at home.
All-Time vs. Upcoming Opponents
Fresno State has a losing record against each of this week's opponents. Against UC Irvine, the Bulldogs are 5-9 all-time, although they have won the last two. One of those wins was a tight 4-3 decision in last year's opener in Irvine, Calif. Fresno State is 2-11 all-time against Pepperdine. Both of the Bulldogs' victories against the Waves were milestones. The regular season defeat snapped Pepperdine's 37-match home court winning streak, and then in the NCAA Round of 16, Fresno State cruised past the Waves 5-0 in making the program's best ever run at the NCAA Tournament.
The Importance of the Doubles Point
Fresno State won the doubles point against both UC San Diego and UC Davis on Sunday, something that has proven to be a boon this year. In an exhibition of how vital the doubles point can be, the Bulldogs are 9-1 on the season when winning the doubles point and 2-3 when falling behind 1-0. The only instance in which Fresno State won the point and lost the match came against USC.
Home Sweet Home
The Bulldogs hit the road this week for two matches. While home matches are necessary over the course of a dual match season, Fresno State has definitely found that home is where the wins are. The Bulldogs are 9-0 this year at the Wathen Tennis Center and an impressive 66-8 since the facility's opening in 1998.
