Upcoming Bruin victory forseen by the numbers

Published: Friday, January 30, 1998

Friday, January 30, 1998

M. TENNIS: If history is a marker, UCLA will sweep through Arizona

By Stephanie Chan

Daily Bruin Contributor

The UCLA men's tennis team has posted two magic scores early this season, 5-2 and 7-0. Coincidence or not, these are the same two scores that they posted last year against the Pac-10's two Arizona schools.

In last season's Pac-10 opener, UCLA dropped the bomb on Arizona, 7-0, and secured the defeat of Arizona State, 5-2.

When UCLA headed for the desert to play the Arizona schools on the road, the rabbit was pulled out of the hat again.

This time it was the Bruins over the Sun Devils, 7-0, over the Wildcats, 5-2.

Whatever the score, the Bruins are looking to extend their record to 5-0 this weekend with victories over No. 61 Arizona on Friday and No. 43 Arizona State on Saturday.

"They're always good; they're always competitive matches," said UCLA head coach Billy Martin of the two Arizona schools.

Anticipating this match against the Bruins, the Wildcats played two exhibition matches last weekend. They earned a split, defeating College of the Desert, 4-3, and emerging a victim of a San Diego State sweep.

The same San Diego State played victim to the Bruins in their first match of the season. The score? The notorious 5-2.

Between both the Arizona schools sits only one ranked player, Arizona State's No. 71 Gustavo Marcaccio. Ranked regionally are Arizona's No. 13 Michel Stopa and Arizona State's No. 17 Marcaccio, No. 24 Alex Osterrieth, and No. 26 Ed Carter.

The Sun Devils opened their 1998 season with a 2-5 loss to No. 9 Florida. This Saturday's match against UCLA will be their Pac-10 opener.

Last season's final Pac-10 standings placed Arizona State 4th and Arizona 6th.