UA ready for No. 1 UCLA

By Kevin Clerici
Arizona Daily Wildcat
March 8, 1996

Ruthie M. Caffery
Arizona Daily Wildcat

Arizona senior Vuk Tapuskovic goes for a shot in a recent match. The Wildcats are set to face No. 1 UCLA today.

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Shock the world.

That is what the men's tennis team decided would be its team motto four months ago, but today's match with No. 1 UCLA was definitely on the team's mind when the idea was brought up.

The match is at 1:30 p.m. at Robson Tennis Center.

Seniors Chris Jenkins, Jan Anderson and Vuk Tapuskovic will suit up today at the Robson Tennis Center for the last time against the Bruins, still seeking their first victory over them.

"This means a lot to me. This is my fourth year, and we have never beaten them, so this definitely means a lot," Jenkins said.

A UA win would certainly shock the Pacific 10 Conference. The Bruins have never lost to Arizona in all 37 meetings between the teams. Earlier this year in Los Angeles, the Wildcats (8-3, 0-2 in the Pac-10) were narrowly defeated by the Bruins (13-0, 2-0) in a match closer than the 5-2 final score indicated.

"We have played them close, now we have to beat them," UA head coach Bill Wright said.

Aggressive play and a strong start in doubles are top priorities to the team.

"We have to be more aggressive. We have to serve well and we have to take it to them in every match from one through six," Wright said. "We have to think offensive-minded."

UA plays No. 8 Southern Cal tomorrow at noon in what will be a chance for the Wildcats to keep the Trojans quiet. In Los Angeles, the Trojan fans yelled derogatory comments to the Wildcat players during the matches.

"The crowd was obnoxious out there, and I think that we were not prepared for that," Jenkins said. "Now we have them at home, and we will be ready."


The International Tennis Association rankings came out yesterday, with the Arizona women's tennis team (11-2, 3-1 in the Pacific 10 Conference) moving up six spots to No. 4, and All-American Vicky Maes becoming the No. 3 singles player in the country. Sophomore Betsy Miringoff was recognized for the first time in her career with a No. 71 ranking.

The Wildcats travel to No. 5 UCLA today and No. 8 Southern Cal tomorrow.

"UCLA is going to be tough. I think that they will have a girl that was out when we beat them here, but I still think that if we go in there and play as well as we are capable of playing, then I like our chances," head coach Becky Bell said.

Against UCLA, Vicky Maes will most likely match up against No. 2 Keri Phebus, who Maes defeated at home 6-7, 7-5, 6-1. The match will mark the fourth time of the year the two have met, with Phebus winning twice. With two wins this weekend, Arizona could sweep the Los Angeles schools for the first time in Bell's 11-year career with Arizona.

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