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Tennis teams face ranked opponents

As both the Arizona men's and women's tennis teams continue through the toughest stretches of their schedules, each look forward to coming away with victories.

Facing two ranked teams this weekend, the men's team hosts No. 31 Texas Tech tomorrow and No. 34 Arizona State on Sunday.

The Red Raiders (3-0) have started their season facing three unranked teams. After downing both Abeliene Christian and Texas at San Antonio by identical scores of 6-1, Tech went on to crush Texas at Arlington, 7-2.

On Sunday, UA (4-3 overall, 0-2 Pacific 10 Conference) returns to the court against ASU (3-2, 0-2), in what junior Brian Jackson said a bitter rivalry.

"Neither team likes each other because we've played against each other all throughout high school and different tournaments," Jackson said.

"It's a big competition because of the bad blood between us."

Last year the Sun Devils defeated the Wildcats both time they met, 5-2 and 6-1. Ever since then, Arizona has been eager to avenge the losses.

"We've been looking forward to ASU since last year," Jackson said.

Arizona State's only two losses have come to UCLA and Southern California. However, they are currently on a three-match winning streak with the combined score of 17-4. The Devils are led by No. 97 nationally ranked Ed Carter (11-6 overall) and Matt Kilnger (11-5).

After a loss in Eugene to Oregon, the women's team will try to rebound this weekend on the road against the No. 9 Sun Devils. But freshman Siri Fomsgaard (6-6 , 0-1) said the team isn't dwelling on the loss.

"We just continued to practice well, for we didn't see this loss as a tragedy," Fomsgaard said.

Fomsgaard made her Pac-10 debut last week because of injuries to freshman Uzma Kahn and sophomore Laresa Marino.

"I was excited about playing the first one but I just take it as one match at a time because every match is difficult," Fomsgaard said.

Kahn and Marino still remain questionable for the ASU match.

The Sun Devils (5-1, 2-1) are riding a four match winning streak, with their only loss of the season coming to UCLA a month ago. ASU's singles' lineup consists of three nationally ranked players - No. 15 Allison Bradshaw, No. 41 Karin Palme and No. 94 Mhairi Brown. The No. 21 Wildcats (6-2, 1-2) are eager to greet them in Saturday's showdown.

"The whole team is playing well and, in general, really pumped for this weekend," Fomsgaard said.

The men's match starts at 1:30 p.m. tomorrow and noon on Sunday. Both matches are at the Robson Tennis Center.

The women face Arizona State in Tempe on Sunday at 1 p.m.