After wrapping up a month-long road trip, the ASU men's tennis team will host the Bay Area schools this weekend at the Whiteman Tennis Center. The Sun Devils, who are 2-2 against Pac-10 opponents, will host sixth-ranked Stanford on Friday afternoon, before facing 17th-ranked California the following day.
"We've had good matches from different individuals at different times this season. This weekend, we need everyone to play good tennis," ASU head coach Lou Belken said. "It's been a rough month for us. We've played well at home and are just happy to be back."
ASU picked up a 5-2 victory last week at Oregon when senior Matt Klinger recorded a 6-4, 6-4 win over freshman Manuel Kost on the No. 1 court.
Klinger also came up victorious in doubles action with the help of junior Mitchell Bowen. The tandem defeated Oregon junior Oded Teig and freshman Sven Swinnen, 9-8, on the first doubles court. ASU sophomores Oliver Charrion and Chris Stewart also notched a doubles victory, defeating junior Jason Menke and freshman Johan Paalberg, 8-2, on the second court.
However, the Sun Devils couldn't return home unbeaten after getting shutout at Washington. ASU's only win came on the third doubles court when junior Pim Van Mele and freshman Clinton Letcher defeated freshman Christoph Palmanshofer and sophomore Nick Weiss, 8-2. But the win was not enough to earn a point, as the Sun Devils were edged out on the other two doubles courts.
"We just played horrible that day," Belken said. "That's a match we have learned a lot from."
Belken said his team's 9-8 record is not an accurate indication of its level of play.
"Our record is very misleading," he said. "If you look at our losses, only one came from a team ranked outside the top 15 in the nation."
Reach the reporter at amanda.bissette@asu.edu.
Women surging after pair of wins
Coming off two wins at the Washington schools, the ninth-ranked ASU women's tennis team will travel to the Bay Area schools this weekend to take on 15th-ranked California and sixth-ranked Stanford. ASU beat California 4-3 earlier this year, but came up short against Stanford in a 5-2 loss.
The Sun Devils (12-5) celebrated a 6-1 win over Washington State last weekend on the strength of a victory on the fourth singles court by sophomore Cindy Sureephong, who edged out sophomore Lorena Arias, 6-4, 6-7, 6-4. ASU junior Adria Engel and sophomore Dora Krstulovic also picked up a victory on the first doubles court over senior Erica Perkins and sophomore Stacy McKenna, 8-6.
Krstulovic, a transfer from Croatia, has found success after undergoing preseason knee surgery. She is 14-3 in singles and is on a seven-game winning streak. Engel is ranked 20th nationally, while Krstulovic holds the No. 29 spot.
"Adria is one of the top players in the country. When she is playing well, she can beat anybody," Sun Devil head coach Sheila McInerney said. "When we acquired Dora, we knew we were getting a good player. She has really come a long way this season."
ASU also notched a 5-2 win over Washington. The Sun Devils lost the doubles point, but won five of six singles matches. ASU freshman Lauren Colalillio struggled in her first set on the No. 5 court, before coming back strong in the second, defeating junior Andrea Coulter, 7-5, 6-2.
Reach the reporter at amanda.bissette@asu.edu.
