With three matches and a trip to Georgia this weekend, the Ohio State men’s tennis team has a lot of challenges in store.
After dominating performances over Xavier and Cleveland State Jan. 23, the Buckeyes immediately had to start looking ahead toward the three teams they will meet across the net today and Sunday.
“It was nice to finally get out and play someone other than your own teammates,” OSU coach Ty Tucker said. “It was easier than we thought.”
Senior Jeremy Wurtzman said he thought the opening matches were good for the team’s confidence.
“I felt we really connected as a team,” Wurtzman said. “It was good for us to have a couple of matches like those to get our confidence going.”
Sunday OSU will play against No. 21 Georgia – the first match against a ranked team this season. The Bulldogs host the NCAA tournament each year, so it will be a good opportunity for the Buckeyes to get experience on their courts.
“We want a chance to play the best teams in the country week-in and week-out except in the beginning of the season when we are trying to work out the kinks,” Tucker said. “We’ll play Georgia anytime they’ll play us.”
The Buckeyes are ranked higher than Georgia with the No. 15 spot. They look for it to be a tough match-up, but Tucker said he is concerned with getting through DePaul and Toledo first.
At 10 a.m. today, OSU will face DePaul at Jesse Owens West Recreational Center. After a few hours of rest the Buckeyes will then host Toledo at 5 p.m.
After today’s matches, OSU will fly to Athens, Ga., tomorrow morning. The possibility of jet-lag and fatigue does not worry the Buckeyes though.
“(Tucker) knows how to pump us up, and he knows how to travel,” sophomore Dennis Mertens said. “He will be able to get us ready to face Georgia.”
The Buckeyes haven’t played on the Georgia courts since May 2003 when they went to the round of 16 in the NCAA tournament. It was the farthest any OSU men’s tennis team has advanced in the tournament. The performance led to the highest ranking in program history as well, when OSU finished the season at No. 17.
“We will have to get out there right away and get to work,” Wurtzman said. “It is always good to get in as much hitting as you can in a new place before a match.”
Wurtzman holds the No. 1 ranking in the ITA and will likely face No. 5 Bo Hodge when OSU faces Georgia Sunday. The two met across the net in fall singles action when Wurtzman defeated him to grab the ITA National Indoor Championship. At the time, Wurtman was ranked No. 20 and Hodge was No. 2.
A number of Buckeyes will be serving up six matches over the weekend. Many of the players who take spots in the singles matches will be competing in doubles as well.
“It’s the price you pay to get on the University of Georgia’s schedule,” Tucker said.
OSU should be at full capacity for the matches. The team is comprised of three seniors, three sophomores and three freshmen. Two of the freshmen, Joey Atas and Devin Mullings, should take their place in the top three single courts, while the other, Dominic Ozanne, chose to redshirt this year.
Mertens is the only Buckeye who reported any injury concerns.
“I’m feeling pretty confident right now, except my wrist hurts a little bit,” Mertens said after beating his Cleveland State opponent, 6-0, 6-0. “I’m going to try to practice a little less the next few days so I can be ready for Georgia.”
