WACO, Texas – Illinois men’s tennis is set to play for the first time in three weeks, starting with a double header against Abilene Christian and Baylor on March 17.
The Abilene Christian match will be at 11 a.m. CT followed by the Baylor match at 6 p.m. CT. All matches will be held at the Hurd Tennis Center.
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION | ABILENE CHRISTIAN (8-8)
Decorated Wildcat letter winner and longtime assistant coach Juan Nunez was named Abilene Christian’s Director of Tennis on June 1, 2020.
Nunez coached both ACU teams during the 2020-21 season before shifting his entire focus to the men’s program, helping it win the 2022 WAC Tournament Championship. The Wildcats defeated New Mexico State, 4-2, and Lamar, 4-1, in their WAC debut to earn the program’s first NCAA bid at the DI level.
Abilene Christian is coming off a 1-6 loss to Texas A&M in College Station, Texas on March 14, after dropping a close match, 3-4 to Lamar at home on March 4.
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION | BAYLOR (8-9)
Michael Woodson enters his sixth season with the Bears after previously serving as associate head coach. He was the assistant coach for three seasons before being promoted in Dec. 2019.
In his first year at the helm, Woodson led Baylor to a historic season which produced the program’s all-time record for wins in a single season (34), as well as trips to the NCAA National Championship and ITA National Team Indoor Championship, and the program’s first No. 1 overall ranking since 2005.
The Bears also earned a share of the Big 12 regular-season title and won the Big 12 Tournament Championship for their 23rd and 24th all-time league trophies.
Baylor is coming off a 6-1 victory over Furman at the Hurd Tennis Center n Waco.
The Bears were slated for a two-match trip in Los Angeles, Calif. against No. 8 Southern California and Nevada, but it was canceled.
ILLINI IN THE RANKINGS
The Illini found themselves in the No. 17 spot the week after the ITA National Indoor Championships, after beating No. 9 Wake Forest, as well as beating No. 15 Georgia earlier that week.
Now, Illinois sits at No. 19 after its three-week bye.
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