Travis Taylor | Lariat Photographer
Reporter
The red-hot men’s tennis team beat Laredo Community College and Abilene Christian Saturday with 7-0 victories in both matches.
The 26th-ranked Bears (9-1) have extended their win streak to seven with these two wins.
“It felt great,” head coach Matt Knoll said. “14-0, wonderful day to be a Baylor Bear.”
No. 77 Marko Krickovic, Roberto Maytin and Robert Verzaal won singles matches against both opponents.
In the first match against Laredo Community College, No. 122 Patrick Pradella won 6-4, 6-2 and Tony Lupieri won 6-3, 6-2. Robbie Korth also won 6-0, 6-1 in his first match of the season.
In the second match against Abilene Christian, No. 43 Julian Lenz won 6-4, 7-6 (7-3) and No. 78 Mate Zsiga won 6-0, 6-1. Diego Galeano also won 6-4, 6-3.
“We definitely got the job done,” Zsiga said. “So I think it was a good performance for everybody.”
The team’s momentum will be important because the upcoming schedule features three Top-10 teams.
The Bears will face No. 6 Kentucky on March 8, No. 3 UCLA on March 10 and No. 1 Virginia on March 11. The matches against Kentucky and UCLA will be in Waco.
“It’s a huge opportunity for us,” Knoll said. “We’re going to play Kentucky, whose 6th in the country, and have had a great start to their season. We know they’re going to be super talented; they’re going to be up. They lost to us last year down at their place so we know they’re going to be jumping up and down ready to go and we’re going to have to be ready to match their energy.”
