Match Preview: Men's Tennis at Tulane
2/9/2001 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
Feb. 9, 2001
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#19 Baylor (1-2) vs. #42 Tulane (2-2)
Sunday, Feb. 11, 2001, Noon
With a bit more confidence after sweeping Lamar a week ago for their first win, the Baylor men's tennis team hits the road again, traveling to New Orleans to face No. 42 Tulane. The match is the first of three consecutive road matches for the Bears, who do not play again at home until March 3.
The Green Wave began the weekend at 2-2, having lost to No. 29 Michigan and No. 20 Miami by identical 4-3 scores. Tulane hosts Oklahoma Saturday before facing Baylor on Sunday.
Tulane is led by 36th-ranked Michael Kogan, a freshman from Israel who enters the weekend 17-2 on the season and a perfect 4-0 this spring. Kogan and partner Mikko Viljanen are together ranked No. 18 in the nation in doubles, as of Feb. 8.
The Bears last played the Green Wave in 1999, as then-No. 19 Baylor beat then-No. 24 Tulane 5-2 in Waco. Baylor is 2-1 against Tulane all-time, including a victory in the two teams' only meeting in New Orleans.
Senior all-American Mark Williams remains questionable for the match, due to an injury suffered Jan. 27 at Mississippi State.
Team notes:
The Bears' current No. 19 ranking is the team's lowest ranking at any point since the team finished the 1998 season ranked 26th.
Baylor's 0-2 start was the team's worst start since 1992, when the team also opened 0-2.
The two-match losing streak was Baylor's longest since 1998, when the Bears lost the final two matches of the season (Big 12 Tournament quarterfinals and NCAA first round).
The Baylor men have won 21 matches in a row at home, dating back to April 17, 1998, when the Bears lost to Texas A&M in the final match of the regular season.
Individual notes:
Head Coach Matt Knoll: 82-48 in his sixth season, 74-32 at Baylor (in his fifth season).
Csongor Bibza: Ranks fifth in school history in career singles wins (43)... Sixth in the Baylor record book in career doubles wins (61), seven behind fifth-place Johannes Michalsky... Advanced to the B Singles quarterfinals of the Rice Invitational (1/19-1/20)... Beat No. 24 Rene-Charles Combette of Mississippi State in Starkville (1/27).
Reiner Neurohr: With Mark Williams, earned a doubles ranking at No. 20 before ever playing a collegiate match... The two backed that up with an 8-3 record in the fall, earning a No. 4 national ranking in the December listing... Neurohr also earned his first career singles ranking in December at No. 91.
Sean O'Connor: Already has two four-match win streaks this year (9/24-9/29, 10/28-10/29)... Advanced to the B Singles quarterfinals of the Rice Invitational (1/19-1/20).
Zoltan Papp: Had a pre-fall ranking of No. 41, but dropped out of the poll after missing the fall due to injury (ACL tear)... Saw his first action of the spring (doubles only) against Lamar (1/31)... Could be ready to play singles against Tulane.
Cory Ross: Won four straight singles matches (9/23-9/29)... Advanced to the C Singles Semifinals at the Rice Invitational (1/19-1/20).
Mark Williams: Ranks second in school history with 81 career singles wins, 13 wins behind record-holder Johann Jooste, and is second in career doubles wins (73), six behind David Hodge... With Reiner Neurohr, was ranked the No. 4 doubles team in the nation in December... Earned his first career singles ranking in September (No. 68), but dropped to No. 92 in December... Suffered an injury against Mississippi State (1/27) which forced him to miss the match against Lamar (1/31), he may be able to play against Tulane.
