When the UCLA men’s tennis team plays host to crosstown rival USC this afternoon, there will be more than just pride on the line.
The No. 10 Bruins will be looking to close out the season with a win to secure the Pac-10 title outright, and to end any slight chance that USC may have of going on to win the Lexus Gauntlet Trophy.
The Bruins (18-3, 6-0 Pac-10) and the No. 9 Trojans (20-1, 6-0) will be meeting for the second time this season, but with much more at stake this time around.
“I think this is one of the biggest matches in the past few years,” senior Benjamin Kohlloeffel said. “UCLA and USC haven’t had this scenario in a while, where we’re actually playing for the Pac-10 Championship, so there’s no doubt that it’s a big match.”
For Kohlloeffel and fellow seniors Philipp Gruendler and Chris Surapol, it will be the last chance to face off against USC during a regular-season dual match, and the trio looks to help reverse the 6-1 defeat they suffered against the Trojans in the prior meeting this season on the road.
Coach Billy Martin has stressed to his team that it will need to play to the best of its abilities to withstand a talented USC team.
“I told the guys all week that there’s no guarantee and we have to play great and still put ourselves on the line, and even then there’s still no guarantees,” Martin said. “Whoever wants it more will probably prevail.”
In the last meeting between the two teams, the Trojans jumped ahead of the Bruins quickly by capturing the doubles point, something Martin believes set the tone for the match.
This time around, though, UCLA will look to make the first move by taking the critical point and then relying on its talented singles lineup.
One of the most shocking aspects for Martin was that Kohlloeffel, his top player and ranked fourth in the nation, was unable to capture a win for the Bruins. But neither coach nor player are daunted by the past as this afternoon’s environment will be less hostile for UCLA.
“You always want to revenge your losses,” Kohlloeffel said. “It’s always special to play at home because it’s your court, your crowd, and you’re more familiar with everything.”
And in the past three years, the Bruins have become quite familiar with being named Pac-10 champions ““ a title they hope to maintain by the end of day.
“Hopefully we’ll give our fans something to cheer for,” Martin said. “It’ll be an exciting match for our tennis team and just for tennis in general.”
SENIOR DAY: Kohlloeffel, Gruendler and Surapol will all be honored after the match for their achievements and accomplishments during their tenures at UCLA.
All three were members of the 2005 National Championship team and have contributed to the program since arriving.
Kohlloeffel captured the NCAA Individual Championships at the end of last season as well as back-to-back National Indoor Championship titles in 2005 and 2006. He also set UCLA records for most wins at the No. 1 position and most dual match singles victories.
Gruendler teamed with Kohlloeffel last season to produce one of the top doubles tandems in the nation, and the duo have lost just one match this season as they look to continue their success.
Surapol, who has been troubled with injuries and was forced to redshirt for one season, will end his career as a Bruin playing some of his best tennis, as he ended the fall season ranked No. 27 in the nation.