University Southern California Trojans
Men's Tennis Prepares For Fresno State
January 31, 2000 | Men's Tennis
Jan. 31, 2000
This Week -- The 11th-ranked USC men's tennis team swept both Arizona State (Jan. 28) and Arizona (Jan. 29) last weekend to open the Pac-10 schedule. This week, the Trojans host nonconference opponent Fresno State on Tuesday (Feb. 1). Sophomore Andrew Park will represent the team in singles at the ITA Individual Championships (Feb. 3-6) in Dallas, Tex. Park earned an automatic bid by winning the ITA Region VIII South Championship in the Fall.
The Trojans' Last Outing -- The Trojans began the week with a 7-0 sweep of Brigham Young at home (Jan. 26). Troy defeated the Cougars with ease in four of six singles matches, and in all three doubles. At No. 2 singles, sophomores Andrew Park battled through a tie-breaker in the third set for the win, and USC's Nicholas Rainey went on to capture the come-from-behind victory, 1-6, 7-6, 6-4, at No. 4. The Trojans opened the Pac-10 schedule with a 5-2 win over Arizona State on Friday (Jan. 28), and followed with a 6-1 victory over Arizona on Saturday (Jan. 29). The duo of Rainey and Ryan Moore remain undefeated in 2000 after earning two victories against the Sun Devils (8-5) and Wildcats (8-1). Patrick Gottesleben, Daniel Langre and Rainey have also remained undefeated in singles dual matches through the weekend.
USC vs. Fresno State -- Tuesday's match will mark the 14th meeting between the Trojans and Bulldogs. Last season, USC faced Fresno State in the second round of the NCAA Regionals. The Bulldogs eliminated Troy from the tournament with a 4-1 defeat.
USC News & Notes -- 17th-ranked Fresno State will be the Trojans' first ranked opponent of the 2000 season... After finishing the 1999 season ranked 17th, USC jumped six spots (11th) in the ITA fall rankings... Three of USC's four ranked players are only sophomores.
1999 Fall Highlights -- USC's doubles play has been powered by Ryan Moore and Nicholas Rainey this season - the duo won the Fresno State Bulldog Classic (Oct. 8-10) by defeating Rizo/Maldonado of San Diego... Troy earned a decisive victory at Notre Dame (Oct. 15), claiming four singles points and all three doubles points... Sophomore Andrew Park earned an automatic berth to the ITA Indoor Championships by winning the ITA Region VIII South Championship (Nov. 4-7) with a finals victory over teammate Patrick Gottesleben, 6-2, 6-2... Rainey won the tournaments' singles back draw competition with a victory over Sean Cooper of San Diego... Rainey and Moore garnered the SCTA tournament championship (Nov. 19-21) by defeating teammates Gottesleben and Park.
Roster Changes -- Several roster changes took effect after the holiday break. Transfer Gregg Hill decided not to return to USC to pursue a career on the professional circuit. Junior Roman Kukal has also left the team in order to care for his family in Bratislova, Slovakia. Freshman Daniel Langre is the Trojans' new spring addition. The 6-0 freshman from Mexico City is ranked 36th according to ITF junior international rankings.
Head Coach Dick Leach -- Dick Leach enters his 21st season at the helm of the USC men's tennis program. In 20 years with the Trojans, he has amassed a 481-110 (.814) overall record and won three national championships (1991, 1993, 1994). His teams have garnered seven Pac-10 championships, for which Leach has been named conference coach of the year four times (1987, 1991, 1992, 1994). Last season, he guided USC to a 19-5 (.792) overall mark, third place finish in the Pac-10 (5-2), and second round appearance at the NCAAs.
