Fresno State Athletics
Big Three-Match Weekend
2/26/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
Feb. 26, 2009
FRESNO, Calif. - Opponents from the Pac-10, Mountain West and Sun Belt Conferences will pay the Fresno State men's tennis team a visit this weekend with three matches in three days.
The Bulldogs first face No. 50 San Diego State on Friday at 5 p.m., followed by 35th-ranked Arizona on Saturday at 1 p.m. and will conclude on Sunday at 2 p.m. against Middle Tennessee State. All matches will be played at the Spalding G. Wathen Tennis Center.
The Bulldogs are 3-2 on the season and ranked 42nd in the nation. Last weekend the Bulldogs went 1-1 against Pac-10 foes Washington and Oregon. Freshman Remi Boutillier and junior Tejesvi Veerepali both went 2-0 that weekend.
San Diego State is coming off a season where it advanced to the MWC semifinals and is 4-4 this year. The Aztecs don't have any individuals or doubles duos ranked, but as a team, San Diego State is ranked 50th.
Fresno State holds a 9-7 edge in the series with the Aztecs, but on Feb. 28, 2008, the last time the two squads met, San Diego State came away with a 5-2 victory.
Arizona and Fresno State have only met eight times, with the Wildcats winning six of those matches. Arizona has looked impressive this season with an 8-1 record, including wins over ranked opponents Texas Tech (29), South Florida (37), North Carolina State (40) and San Diego (53).
No. 96 Jay Goldman is the only ranked Wildcat individual, and they have one ranked doubles team - No. 20 Francois Vander Merwe and Pat Metham.
The unranked Middle Tennessee State has the most ranked players of the teams the Bulldogs face this weekend. The Blue Raiders have John Peers ranked 72nd and Robert McKenzie 111st individually, and as a pair they are ranked 52nd.
Middle Tennessee State is 4-3 and has won two of its last three matches. This is the third meeting between the schools, with both of the previous matches coming in the 2006 season. The Bulldogs and Blue Raiders split those meetings.
After this weekend, the Bulldogs will next be in action in Las Vegas, Nev., to take on Pepperdine on March 6 and then March 7 against UNLV. Fresno State next returns home to face Indiana on March 17.
"Join the State - Fresno State" -- The Bulldogs return home on March 17 to take on Big 10 foe Indiana at 3 p.m. at the Spalding G. Wathen Tennis Center. Follow the 'Dogs throughout the season on www.gobulldogs.com.
