The No. 54 Arizona men's tennis team has one more match before it can worry about the NCAA Tournament.
Arizona (8-11, 1-5 Pacific 10 Conference) faces in-state rival No. 52 ASU (7-12, 1-5) at Robson Tennis Center tomorrow at 1:30 p.m.
Both teams are on the bubble to enter the NCAA's field of 64.
Arizona already beat ASU in Tempe 5-2 earlier this year. A sweep of the Sun Devils could be just the thing to punch a ticket to the postseason.
"It's obviously a big match," said Arizona assistant coach Tad Berkowitz. "It's our last home match of the year and it's against ASU."
The Wildcats are coming off a 5-2 loss to No. 66 Oregon last weekend.
"Oregon came out with some real fire," Berkowitz said. "But our guys have always looked good after a loss. They bounce back well."
ASU is coming off a 6-1 loss to No. 11 Washington, who squeaked by the Cats 4-3 last weekend.
Arizona needs its freshmen to step up if it plans to sweep the Sun Devils this year.
Berkowitz said he is proud of the team's three freshmen and that he knows they will do their part.
"No matter who it is," Berkowitz said. "Whether it's Bruno (Alcala), Jason (Labrosse), or Claudio (Christen), we're confident in them. They've done it all year."
The freshmen show promise for the next few years.
Seniors Colin O'Grady and Paul Warkentin, Arizona's most animated player, are playing in their last home match for Arizona.
"It's bittersweet," O'Grady said. "I love playing, but I'm a little glad to get a break."
O'Grady, who won't graduate until May 2006, said he'll come out to some of the practices next year, but that's it.
"They don't need another coach," he said.
Warkentin, who lost to ASU's Jonathan Kinsella 6-4, 6-3 in the teams' last meet Feb. 25, said he looks forward to one last opportunity at beating the Sun Devils.
"I hope I get another crack at him," Warkentin said. "I didn't play my best tennis. I had been
5-0 against ASU until then."
Arizona has won the last three matches against ASU.
"I love beating ASU," O'Grady said.
"We need this win," Warkentin said. "It'll be great for us going into the tournament."
Berkowitz said he might mix up the lineup to keep the Sun Devils guessing until tomorrow.