By Clint Cole,
clint.cole@iowastatedaily.com
Big 12 Syndication/Iowa State Daily
The ISU tennis team will have its hands full this weekend against two very talented teams. The Cyclones — 10-10, 1-5 Big 12 — hit the road this Friday and Sunday to play Texas Tech in Lubbock, Texas, and No. 9 Baylor in Waco, Texas.
Last weekend, the Red Raiders (14-4, 4-1) defeated Oklahoma State by a score of 4-3 and followed that up with an upset over No. 23 Texas, also by a score of 4-3. ISU senior Liza Wischer said that this isn’t going to be an issue.
“I don’t really look at the stats, or the wins and losses, because Baylor just lost to Kansas State, who we almost beat,” Wischer said. “So right now, the wins and losses between the Big 12 doesn’t mean anything to me because I think we can go out there on any given day and we can beat anyone. And I think that goes within the whole Big 12.”
Last season, the Red Raiders defeated the Cyclones by a score of 5-2 in Ames.
The Baylor Bears (15-3, 5-1) are also coming off of a victory over No. 23 Texas. They defeated the Longhorns 5-2. Baylor defeated the Cyclones last year by a score of 7-0 in Waco. The Bears have a perfect 15-0 record against the Cyclones and have only lost eight points through the entire series.
Coach Armando Espinosa said that this weekend will be for rebuilding after two tough losses to Kansas and Kansas State last Friday and Sunday. The Cyclones have been practicing outdoors at Forker this week and he thinks that they will benefit from that.
“I’m sure it’s going to be hotter, so we’re going to try to adapt to that,” Espinosa said. “Thursday is an all day traveling day, so we won’t even be able to hit until the day of the match.”
The main advantage Espinosa thinks his team has is being a team with nothing to lose.
“If we play like we have nothing to lose then we’ll be okay,” Espinosa said. “The minute we start putting pressure on ourselves and think about things, then that’ll make things a little bit tougher.”
The Cyclones take on Texas Tech at 4 p.m. Friday in Lubbock, and Baylor at 1 p.m. Sunday in Waco.
