Colorado University Athletics
Men?s Tennis Battles Texas Tech At Big 12 Tennis Tourney
The Buffaloes, nationally ranked at No. 25, their highest ranking in school history, finished the regular season with an 18-7 overall record and a 5-2 mark in the conference. Both records are a school best since 1996-97 when the Buffs went 20-10 overall and 7-2 in Big 12 play. It’s also the last time CU advanced to the NCAA Tournament.
On Friday, the Buffs are seeded No. 3, also their highest seed since 1997, take on a Red Raiders team (15-9, 4-3) they defeated last Sunday in
CU has won nine of its last 11 matches since the conference season began back on March 26. Their only losses have been to No. 3 ranked
The CU/TTU winner will play in Saturday’s semifinal round (at noon) against either No. 2 seed
The Big 12 Men’s Tennis Championships are scheduled for Friday-Sunday at the
Live updates of all matches can be found on Baylor’s official athletic website, www.BaylorBears.com. Log on to the 2006 Big 12 Championships link in the top right corner of the front page.
CU vs. the Big 12 Tennis Championships Field
Baylor: 0-3
1-9
CU’s Record When...
playing a Big 12 team 5-2
playing a Mountain Region Oppt. 12-0
playing at home 9-1
playing at South Campus 5-1
playing at Harvest House 3-0
playing at HH (outside) 1-0
playing on the road 4-1
playing on neutral courts 5-5
playing indoors 8-3
playing outdoors 10-4
playing a ranked school 12-7
playing a top-25 school 2-5
playing a top-26 to 50 school 5-2
playing a top-51+ school 5-0
playing a higher ranked school 4-6
playing a lower ranked school 8-1
the final score is 4-3 4-2
winning doubles point 11-0
losing doubles point 5-6
Record at... overall non-conf Big 12
No. 1 singles 13-11 8-9 5-2
No. 2 singles 17-7 12-5 5-2
No. 3 singles 14-9 12-4 2-5
No. 4 singles 17-4 13-1 4-3
No. 5 singles 16-7 12-3 4-3
No. 6 singles 15-8 11-5 4-3
No. 1 doubles 10-11 6-9 4-2
No. 2 doubles 12-11 9-8 3-3
No. 3 doubles 11-9 9-5 2-4
Team Notes
Since conference play began back on March 26, the Buffaloes have achieved a number of feats against every opponent they have faced. Here’s a look at their match-by-match accomplishments:
at
at
at Baylor (April 21): Baylor proved to be stronger once again winning, 6-1. BU has won last 11 in a row, however Peter Bjork upset No. 50 Matija Zgaga 7-6(9), 6-3 at No. 2 singles.
at
Big 12 Tournament (April 27-30): Since 1996-97, CU has advanced to the semifinals only once (1997); the Buffs have lost in the quarterfinals (1st round play) last six years in a row. Entering the 2006 conference tournament, CU is the No. 3 seed, the second time in their history (2006, 1997).
- Highest seed: #3 (2006, 1997); Other seeds: #5 (1998); #6 (2002, 2003); #7 (2005, 2004, 2001), #8 (2000, 1999).
- In conference play: CU won a Big 12 best seven matches in 1997, then five in 1998; Prior to this season, Buffs won 10 matches in Big 12 play from 1999-2005.
- Entering the quarterfinal round, the 18 team wins are the most since the 1996-97 season when CU won 20 matches.
- CU won the Mountain Region tag during the spring achieving a school-first 12-0 record. They also won the ITA Mountain Regional Playoff in January.
- The Buffs went 9-1 at home (6-1 outdoors, 3-0 indoors), they’re most wins at home since the 1989-90 season.
- In the April 18 ITA/Fila rankings, CU made their top-25 debut, a school first. They’re previous national ranking was ending the 1995-96 season at No. 32. Prior to that, CU was ranked No. 28 nationally (April 4 & 11) in the ITA/Fila rankings for two straight weeks. Entering this weekend’s matches the Buffs remain at No. 28.
- The Buffaloes began the conference season with a 4-0 start. The last time they started the conference season unbeaten was 1992-93 (6-0 overall in the Big 8).
- From March 26-April 7, the Buffs won six straight matches, the most since winning seven in a row in 1993-94.
- CU has defeated 12 nationally ranked schools.
- In conference play: CU won a school-Big 12 best seven matches in 1997, then five in 1998. The Buffaloes won only 10 matches in Big 12 play from 1999-2005.
- CU’s five conference wins are the most since winning five back in 1998.
- three of CU’s seven losses are to the nation’s top-10 schools (No. 2 Georgia, No. 3 Texas, and No. 6 Baylor).
Individual Notes
- Eric Molnar was named Big 12 men’s tennis Player of the Week (April 2-9) after defeating the ITA/Fila No. 8 Jerry Makowski, Texas A&M 6-1, 6-1; and No. 7 Travis Helgeson, 6-4, 7-6(5) of Texas.
- five CU players have won at least 20 matches this season, a school first, Peter Bjork (27), Marek Dvorak (24), Eric Molnar (24), Chad Tsuda (22), Jan Zelezny (22).
- Junior Peter Bjork has won 27 singles matches this year, the most of any CU player since Stefan Figley went 27-7 in 1991-92. The CU leader is James Johnson going 28-4 in 1986-87. Bjork has 17 dual match victories, followed with Marek Dvorak and Chad Tsuda with 15 dual match wins.
-A quartet of CU players are 7-3 in their last 10 singles matches: Peter Bjork, Marek Dvorak, Eric Molnar,
- Senior Chad Tsuda has won a season-high 22 matches this spring and a total of 65 singles matches over his four years. He’s tied for ninth all-time at CU.
- Senior Marko Bundalo has 61 career wins (tied for 15th overall) along with junior Marek Dvorak (61); Peter Bjork is 17h with 55.
- Jan Zelezny and Marko Bundalo made the first and second All-Big 12 men’s tennis academic team, respectively.
-
- CU Athlete of the Week Honors: Eric Molnar, Sept. 11-18 and April 2-9; Jan Zelezny, Sept. 18-25 and Mar. 12-19; Peter Bjork, Jan. 15-22, Mar. 26-Apr. 1, Apr. 16-23); Chad Tsuda (Apr. 9-16); Zelezny was named CU Athlete of the Week (March 12-19) after winning all three of his singles matches at the Blue-Gray National Tennis Classic.
- CU has earned six Big 12 All-Conference singles players (one in 2005, 2004, 2002, 2001, 1999, 1998, 1997); in doubles: 1997.