Feb. 2, 2010
FRESNO, Calif. -
Fresh off a two-win Texas road trip, the 46th-ranked Fresno State Bulldogs travel to take on No. 33 California on Wednesday in Berkeley, Calif.
Fresno State is off to its best since head coach Jay Udwadia took over the program in 2004, with a 5-0 record, which includes three wins over ranked opponents.
The biggest victory of the year for the Bulldogs was a 4-3 upset of No. 12 Texas A&M in College Station, Texas, in the first qualifying round of the ITA National Team Indoor Championships. The following round, they swept No. 34 Rice, 4-0, to punch their ticket to the National Team Indoors Sweet 16.
Newcomer David Ayoun has compiled a 10-3 record thus far in his career and is currently ranked No. 83 in ITA Tennis singles rankings.
Two 'Dogs doubles teams are nationally ranked also. Junior Rikus de Villiers and sophomore Remi Boutillier have yet to lose a match together, with a 11-0 record and No. 36 ranking. The ITA also recognized seniors Mirko Zapletal and Taylor Leiby also, as the No. 20 team in the country.
De Villiers was named WAC Player of the Week on Tuesday, as he went 3-0 in singles and doubles and helped guide the 'Dogs to a 3-0 mark on the week and qualify for the National Team Indoors Sweet 16.
The Bears are off to a 4-1 start this year, including wins over No. 35 Tulsa, No. 40 Texas Tech and No. 69 SMU. In those four wins, California outscored their opponents 24-1.
California boasts No. 33 Jonathan Dahan, No. 98 Bozhidar Katsarov and No. 106 Christoffer Konigsfeldt in its singles lineup. In doubles, the Bears have the No. 39 doubles tandem of Sky Lovill and Nick Andrews. Konigzfeldt is also ranked with Andrews as the No. 49 doubles team.
Fresno State is 7-10 all-time against the Bears. California has won the last three matches, but prior to that, the Bulldogs won six-straight against the Bears.
After the trip to Berkeley, Calif., the 'Dogs return to the Spalding G. Wathen Tennis Center for a doubleheader against Santa Clara and San Francisco on Sunday.
"We Are Your Team" - Make plans to be there for the Fresno State home doubleheader on Feb. 7 against Santa Clara and San Francisco. For all the up to date information on Fresno State men's tennis stay logged on to gobulldogs.com.
