Dawgs Take Underdog Role Again In Ojai

THIS WEEK IN HUSKY MEN’S TENNIS

 

PAC-12 CHAMPIONSHIPS

Ojai, Calif. | Libbey Park

(7) Washington vs. (2) Arizona, 3 p.m.
 
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SEATTLE – The Huskies find themselves in a familiar spot heading into the Pac-12 Men’s Tennis Championships. Washington will take on regular season co-champion Arizona in the quarterfinals this Thursday, Apr. 27, at Libbey Park in Ojai, Calif., looking for an upset to boost its NCAA tourney chances. First serve between the Huskies and Wildcats is scheduled for 3 p.m.
 
Last year the Huskies were the first 8-seed to make the Pac-12 Championship final, upsetting No. 1-seeded Arizona in the quarterfinal round. This year as the No. 7-seed, the Huskies will try for a repeat performance.
 
The Huskies are coming off two big upsets over Stanford and California to end the regular season on a high note and finish with a 3-5 Pac-12 record. Washington’s ITA national ranking jumped up 13 spots with those wins from 56 to No. 43 this week, much more in range of a potential NCAA tournament bid.
 
Sophomore Cesar Bouchelaghem earned Pac-12 Player of the Week honors this week, his second of the season, and he saw his singles ranking jump over fifty spots to a career-high No. 71. Bouchelaghem and Dzianis Zharyn check in at No. 56 in the doubles rankings this week.
 
Arizona took the regular season dual between the teams by a 4-0 count in Tucson. The Wildcats finished in a three-way tie for the regular season conference title at 6-2 with USC and Utah. Arizona is currently ranked 14th nationally with a  20-5 overall record. Jonas is ranked 41st nationally in singles, while Colton Smith is ranked 67th and Gustaf Strom is No. 113. In doubles, Jay Friend and Ziverts are No. 42, and Ziverts and Herman Hoeyeraal are No. 74.
 
The winner of Thursday’s match will move into the semifinals to take on either No. 3 seed Utah or No. 6 seed UCLA on Friday at 4 p.m. The finals are set for Saturday, Apr. 29, at 6 p.m. live on Pac-12 Networks.