Huskies Head For Tennessee, Open With Sooners

THIS WEEK IN HUSKY MEN’S TENNIS

Washington vs. Oklahoma, 6 a.m. PT
#6 Tennessee vs. South Florida, 9 a.m. PT

Sunday, Jan. 28

Consolation Match, 6 a.m. PT

Qualifying Match, 9 a.m. PT

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SEATTLE – The first major challenge of the 2024 season, and the start of a lengthy run of play away from Seattle, comes this weekend for the Husky men’s tennis team. It is ITA Kickoff Weekend around the country, with fifteen sites each hosting four teams, and the winner of every four-team pod earning a spot at the ITA National Team Indoor Championships.

 

Washington is headed to Knoxville, Tenn. where sixth-ranked Tennessee plays host. The Huskies will take on Oklahoma in the first round match, while the Vols face South Florida. The UW-Sooners showdown will be bright and early Saturday morning, at 6 a.m. Pacific time. The two winners then play for a ticket to Nationals on Sunday, Jan. 28, at 9 a.m. Pacific. There is also a consolation match Sunday at 7 a.m. Pacific for the losers of the Saturday matches.

 

The team that wins twice in Knoxville will move on to ITA National Team Indoors which is set for Feb. 16-19 in New York, hosted by Columbia University.

 

The Dawgs are off to a 2-0 start to the season with wins over Idaho and Portland State. Saturday’s match is the first of five-straight on the road for UW.

 

Oklahoma already has four matches under its belt, having defeated UTSA, Oral Roberts, UT Arlington, and Illinois State. The Sooners started the season ranked No. 22 in the ITA poll, but are currently unranked despite the 4-0 start. Oklahoma went 15-12 a year ago and finished the season ranked No. 31. Leading the Sooners is Luis Carlos Alvarez Valdes ranking No. 89 and Alex Martinez ranked No. 91, while Khololwam Montsi is No. 125.

 

Tennessee ended the 2023 season ranked No. 9 nationally and this year has moved up to No. 6. South Florida ended last year at No. 57 nationally.