Tennis teams look to continue winning ways in California

The men's and women's tennis teams travel west this weekend, kicking off a week-long trip to California for Spring Break. Though the two teams have slightly different schedules, both look to enjoy the sunny Golden State weather and get some great outdoor practice in before they return to Princeton.

The teams look forward to the trip for a chance to play some highly-ranked teams in order to gain experience before heading into the heart of their Ivy League season.

"We play three of the top California teams," women's head coach Louise Gengler said. "The good competition will be the best preparation we can get for a very strong Ivy League."

Both teams are looking forward to the competition the week brings as an opportunity to play some great matches and to pull out some big wins while warning future competitors that they are the teams to beat this season.

"It's an opportunity for some big wins and an opportunity to push ourselves to a higher level," Gengler said. Senior Tim Kofol of the men's team agreed.

"This Spring Break is a monumental opportunity to put some fear into our Ivy League opponents," Kofol said. "Beating top nationally ranked teams will show the rest of the Ivy League that we're coming for them."

The men's team will start their week in the Los Angeles area with their first outdoor match since late January, taking on probably their toughest competitor of the season in No. 18 Pepperdine in Malibu on Sunday. Sophomore Andrew Lieu won a set from the Waves' No. 2 player in a match last fall.

The men will then travel to San Diego on Monday to play No. 55 San Diego State who beat the Tigers last year but graduated its No. 1 singles player.

March 18 the Tigers will face No. 61 Purdue at the University of San Diego.

"Although [the Boilermakers] are nationally ranked," men's head coach Glenn Michibata said, "this match is very even. This is the type of team we need to beat if we hope to get a good national ranking."

To finish the road trip, the men take on No. 31 University of San Diego on March 19 and Minnesota on March 20 at the Fairbanks Ranch Country Club, one of the best facilities in Southern California.

The women's team faces an opposite schedule, beginning in San Diego facing San Diego, San Diego State and Denver. They will then head up north to Los Angeles to face a tough Loyola Marymount team before returning home to Princeton.

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The Tigers begin the trip with confidence garnered from their recent home win against St. John's University.

"We're so psyched about the trip, and hopefully the momentum from last weekend will carry into our Spring Break," freshman Darcy Robertson, the team's No. 1 singles player, said. "I think it was a great springboard for us and definitely will help us against the tough teams we are going to face."

The women's team has another reason to be confident. They are finally armed with their strongest singles lineup, bolstered by the recent return of sophomore sensation Ali Hashmall who is coming off a painful knee injury.

"We're going into the week as the underdogs," Gengler said. "But [having this full lineup] should really give us a boost. We've been having individual successes in each dual match, but we're looking to turn those into more team wins. This week we plan to be very sharp and eager for play."

The men's chances also look promising. The squad is coming off four decisive victories over the past two weekends of play. With their season record standing at 5-4, the men are undefeated at home and will take that determined attitude with them to California.

"We're coming off some good wins," Kofol said. "We're ready, and we're confident. We know that this week will be tough, but tennis is a game of inches. We'll fight for every last inch. Winning and losing is like living and dying for us. We're ready to fight."