Sun Devils set for Pac-10 rematches

 by Tim O'Donnell
 published on Friday, March 28, 2008

Kaitlin Ochenrider / THE STATE PRESS

EXTENDED COVERAGE: Junior T.J. Bellama prepares for a backhand during a singles match against Illinois earlier this season.

The ASU women's tennis team is in for a rough weekend.

The Sun Devils, ranked No. 15 by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association, have two crucial Pac-10 matches ahead of them in No. 5 Stanford Friday and No. 7 California Saturday.

ASU is coming off of a 7-0 blowout of UA last weekend.

The win was the Sun Devils' third consecutive shutout and ASU coach Sheila McInerney said the it helps ASU as it goes forward into the Pac-10 season.

"There's no question that any win against a conference team helps," McInerney said.

Freshman Kelcy McKenna, who is coming off a straight-set sweep in singles play last week, echoed McInerney's statement.

"We were excited, it's always nice to win against your rival," McKenna said, "but now we're focused on this weekend."

The Sun Devils will need all the focus they can get. ASU suffered two of its three losses on the season to both Stanford and Cal earlier this month. The Sun Devils dropped a 6-1 to the Cardinal and lost 5-2 to the Golden Bears.

McInerney has never beat Stanford in her tenure at ASU.

"They're both in the top 10 and we have a lot of respect for them," McInerney said. "They beat us pretty handily, and we love the fact that we're at home."

The Sun Devils have played well at home this year losing only once —to No. 10 USC on Feb. 23.

The Sun Devils' schedule this season has been favorable thus far, having only played three of their 14 matches on the road. However, this weekend will be the last home matches of the season.

McKenna said that it is always good to play in front of the home crowd, but doesn't expect it to be a big advantage.

"Cal was here on Wednesday to practice, and I think Stanford will be ready for the heat," McKenna said.

McKenna could be an integral part in an ASU upset. In the last meeting with Stanford, she upset the No. 12 player in the nation.

"Pac-10 teams are always tough," McKenna said. "There are going to be tough matches against tough teams. We really have to fight to win."

Freshman Micaela Hein was sidelined against the Wildcats with a rib injury, but is expected to be back in the lineup this weekend.

"She's getting better by the day," McInerney said. "We have enough good players, so we won't play her if she's not ready."

ASU will need to be in top form if it is likely to pull off any kind of an upset.

"These teams are really deep and have no holes," McInerney said. "They really took it to us last time, but we're ready for them."

Men make final road trip of regular season

What does the ASU men's tennis team's 12-0 start, snow in the Sahara Desert and Seattle SuperSonics winning an NBA championship have in common?

They are all things that haven't happened since 1979.

The Sun Devils are off to their best start in nearly 30 years, and they will try to add to their unbeaten streak with matches at Stanford and California this weekend.

Although ASU beat UA 4-3 last weekend, it slid in the rankings from No. 11 to No. 15.

This weekend's matches will mark the Sun Devils' second road trip to California this year.

ASU was in Southern California in February but was unable to complete its matches with USC and UCLA because of rain.

Stanford and Cal played ASU at home earlier this month. The Sun Devils won both matches by a score of 4-3.

The Sun Devils are no strangers to pulling off close wins. In fact, five of their wins have been 4-3 victories, including three of their last five.

In its last meeting, ASU won three of the six singles matches against Stanford and Cal, respectively.

The doubles point has proven to be the deciding factor for the Sun Devils in those close matches.

The extra doubles point allowed the Sun Devils to get off to a fast start and gave them the one point edge against UA, Stanford and Cal.

The matches will be ASU's last two on the road this season, as the Sun Devils closes out their schedule at home with five straight matches.

Reach the reporter at: todonnel@asu.edu.