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Nerves aside, Cats looking for the win


By Katie Miller
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Friday, January 27, 2006
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Getting first-match nerves out will be the top item on the list for the No. 55 Arizona men's tennis team this weekend. The Wildcats open their 2006 season by hosting No. 69 Montana State on today at 2 p.m. and No. 64 New Mexico tomorrow at noon at the Tucson Racquet Club.

"With the first two matches, there's always nerves and butterflies," Arizona assistant coach Cory Hubbard said.

However, the nerves that everyone is feeling will be good nerves, senior captain Roger Matalonga said.

"Warm-up will help get us ready and release some of the nerves," Matalonga said.

"We're more than 100 percent ready," he added. "We've been waiting a long time to play."

This will be the first year that the Wildcats will play the Bobcats, but Arizona has a 31-7 advantage all-time over the Lobos of New Mexico.

Hubbard said Arizona is looking to come away with a win against both teams.

"A win would be a good start and build confidence for the year," he said.

Matalonga said that a win would show the squad that everything they've been practicing for is worth it.

This weekend's matches will show the players where they are compared to where they want to be, Hubbard said.

The match will be the first for new Arizona head coach Tad Berkowitz, who takes over for long-time head coach Bill Wright this year.

Girls team excited for first home match

After sweeping NAU last weekend, the No. 59 Arizona women's tennis team looks for its first home win when it plays No. 63 Pacific at 11:30 this morning at the Robson Tennis Center.

Although they were favored, the girls fought hard to beat NAU, said junior captain Kasia Jakowlew.

"The girls were able to get their nerves out and responded well," said Arizona head coach Vicky Maes.

The team looks to repeat the style of play they had against the Lumberjacks this weekend.

"We're well prepared and have been practicing hard," junior Jessie Rochefort said.

Since the Wildcats are the favorites for both matches this weekend, the biggest challenge will be the girls maintaining their focus, Maes said.

"We are mentally there," Rochefort said. "There will always be nerves, but we are ready to go."

For the Aggies, who play the Wildcats for the first time in their history, this will be the first year competing in Division I after being moved up from Division II.

Winning the non-conference games is important for Arizona to boost its record, Maes said, due to the Pacific 10 Conference being so tough.

"We want to do good to send a message to other teams," Maes said.

The Wildcats will continue to play throughout the weekend, as they host UC Davis tomorrow with the match scheduled to start at 2 p.m.



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