This promises to be a match of firsts for the UCLA men’s
tennis team.
It’s the first time the No. 2 Bruins (8-0) will face a
highly ranked opponent, the first time they will play a match on
the road, and, most importantly, the first time the team is
expected to be at full strength.
But then again, all of that is secondary ““ because this is
USC.
“Whenever the Bruins and the Trojans battle, it brings out
the best in both teams and the best competitive spirit,” UCLA
coach Billy Martin said. “No Bruin likes to lose to a Trojan,
and no Trojan likes to lose to a Bruin.”
That adds a little bit more fuel to the fire, because UCLA
suffered a heartbreaking defeat at USC last year, losing 4-3.
“I think it will be really good for us to try to go over
there and get a win and redeem ourselves for last year,”
senior Chris Lam said. “It’s going to have a lot more
energy and emotion attached to it.”
It’s pretty safe to say the Bruins have yet to be
challenged this season. In the team’s eight home matches,
UCLA has outscored its opponents 55-1, with that single point
coming earlier this week when senior Luben Pampoulov retired in his
match against San Diego’s Pierrick Ysern due to neck
stiffness.
Now the Bruins will travel to the hostile environment of the
Marks Tennis Stadium on USC’s campus, intent on returning to
Westwood with a victory.
“Last year was horrible,” said sophomore Philipp
Gruendler, who will return from a suspension to play his first
match of the season today. “I was totally overwhelmed by
everything. This year I just want to win my match, and win for my
team.”
Gruendler had to serve the suspension because he played for a
German league in 2003 which was deemed to be professional after he
had played eight matches. Because of those matches, the NCAA made
him sit out eight matches to begin this season.
“I was surprised that they could penalize someone for
something that didn’t even exist at the time I did
that,” Gruendler said. “That was my point, but they
said to be happy that you’re still eligible and take the
penalty.”
Now that he has served his time, Gruendler will make the Bruin
lineup even deeper. He will play somewhere between the No. 4 and
No. 6 positions in singles, and he will likely play at the No. 3
doubles spot.
As for the No. 12 Trojans (3-2), they limp into this crosstown
battle after losing two straight matches in the state of Texas.
After falling 5-2 to No. 1 Baylor, USC lost a tough 4-3 match at
Texas A&M.
“How confident can they be coming off two
drubbings?” Martin said. “I think this will be a real
test of their team.”
Now Martin has eight players to choose his six-man lineup from,
assuming Pampoulov’s neck feels good enough to play.
Today will also mark a few other firsts for the Bruins. Freshmen
Mathieu Dehaine and Jeremy Drean will get to experience the
crosstown rivalry, and it will be sophomore Benjamin
Kohlloeffel’s first time playing in it as well. He was just a
fan when Tobias Clemens lost the deciding match last season.
“I could feel it, that there was something different going
on,” Kohlloeffel said. “There was much more heat on the
court than usual matches. But for me, it’s just a match. If
you get too much into it, it can influence your game.”