Thursday, May 16
Orlando, Fla.
6:00 p.m. CT
Baylor
vs
Florida (Quarterfinals)
MT Challenges No. 3 Florida in NCAA Quarterfinals
5/14/2019 12:14:00 PM | Men's Tennis
Bears and Gators face off on the Tennis Channel Thursday night
By Jerry Hill
Baylor Bear Insider
As excited as he was to get through the NCAA Super Regional match with UCLA and make it to the final site, Baylor coach Brian Boland said the sixth-seeded Bears (25-5) are not "going to Orlando to be in the Elite Eight."
Boland, who won four national championships at Virginia, really "believes in this team." Baylor faces third-seeded Florida (24-3) at 6 p.m. CDT Thursday at the USTA National Campus in Orlando, Fla.
"100 percent," Boland said. "It took a while for me to start talking to the guys about what is possible. And I do believe that these guys are in the right place mentally and physically to compete with anyone in the country. So, there's no reason that we can't go and stay. But, at the same time, we've got to focus on Thursday night against Florida. Every match there is going to be incredibly competitive and close and come down to a few points here and there."
Baylor has won 16 of its last 18 matches, including beating second-ranked Texas, 4-1, in the Big 12 Championship final last month in Lawrence, Kan. The Bears also beat three straight ranked teams at home in the NCAA tournament, knocking off 11th-seeded UCLA, 4-1, last Friday.
"I think we're playing as good as we've ever played, all of us as a team," said senior Jimmy Bendeck, who is 16-6 in singles and ranked No. 1 in the country in doubles with sophomore Sven Lah. "Tennis is different every day, so you wake up and you don't feel the same as you did the day before. But, I definitely think we're feeling confident, and I know we're going to be the most-prepared team out there."
Since losing two of three matches at the ITA National Team Indoor Championships back in February, Florida has won 18 of 19. The Gators avenged a 4-3 loss to Tennessee in the SEC tournament by defeating the Vols, 4-2, last week in the Round of 16.
A young roster is led by eighth-ranked sophomore Oliver Crawford. Freshman Sam Riffice plays No. 2 singles and is ranked 54th, while sophomores Andy Andrade, Johannes Ingildsen and Duarte Vale are 59th, 90thand 113th, respectively.
"Florida has been a strong team for a long time," Boland said. "We're going to have to come out and play some good doubles again. That's been something that's helped us all year long. And if it doesn't go our way, just be willing to embrace the competition after that. We have to play some great tennis, and I know we will. The guys believe in themselves and they're ready to go."
Baylor also has five ranked singles players, led by senior Johannes Schretter at No. 20. Sophomore Matias Soto is 18-4 and ranked 25th, followed by Lah, senior Will Little and freshman Adrian Boitan at 76th, 78thand 112th, respectfully.
Boitan, a first-semester freshman, is 16-4 overall and 10-2 at No. 3 singles.
"If he's not the best, he's undoubtedly one of the best freshmen in the country," Boland said of Boitan, who was named Big 12 Freshman of the Year. "He embraces the pressure, he loves the moment. And as the arena gets a little bigger, Adrian gets a little better."
Boitan had clinched four consecutive matches before Bendeck closed out the win over UCLA by beating the Bruins' Roscoe Bellamy, 6-2, 3-6, 6-2, at No. 6.
"It was almost like a second Senior Day," said Bendeck, who graduates this week along with Little and Schretter. "It was a real last home match, and it was just an incredible experience. It was incredible to see all the student-athletes, all the students, all the people from Waco that came out and supported us."
Bendeck gets to finish his collegiate career less than three hours away from his home in Hollywood, Fla.
"I am from Florida, so personally I'm excited to be back in the humidity," Bendeck said. "It's going to be a little warmer, a little more humid, the courts are going to be a little faster, but nothing too different."
In his one year off from collegiate coaching, Boland was the head of men's tennis for USTA Player Development and was based at the USTA National Campus.
"It's the home of American tennis," Boland said. "It's a great facility, it's beautiful, and certainly I'm familiar with all the surroundings – the indoors, the outdoors, the community and the area. There's always a benefit to being familiar with where you're going. At the same time, these guys adapt and adjust to whatever's thrown at them. There are so many unpredictable, you've just got to embrace it."
Baylor is one of three Big 12 teams in the Elite Eight and would face the winner between second-seeded Texas and No. 10 TCU in Saturday's semifinal if the Bears get by Florida.
"To be able to finish your season in dual matches before the NCAA tournament with Big 12 teams is a huge advantage," Boland said. "Every time you're playing one of the Big 12 teams, you're looking at a competition that can go deep into the NCAA tournament. I don't think anything prepares you better. Every team can play, every date matters, and you have to show up and really bring your best."
Thursday's match will be broadcast live on the Tennis Channel, with live scoring available at USTANationalCampus.com.
WACO, Texas -- Playing at the final site for the 13th time in program history, sixth-seeded and sixth-ranked Baylor will challenge third-seeded and fourth-ranked Florida in the NCAA quarterfinals Thursday at 6 p.m. CT in Orlando, Fla.
The match will be live on the Tennis Channel with Sam Gore and Katrina Adams covering the action in Orlando.
TOP STORYLINES
• The Bears sealed a perfect home record in 2019 (16-0) when they took a 4-1 win over No. 11 UCLA in the NCAA Super Regional last Friday. BU also defeated No. 42 Utah and No. 20 Michigan in the first and second rounds in Waco.
• The Bears look to advance to their sixth NCAA semifinal match and first since 2015.
• BU is playing its 14th consecutive ranked opponent and eighth straight in the postseason.
• BU is 3-0 against SEC teams in 2019, including a top-three upset over Mississippi State at the ITA National Team Indoor Championships.
• BU is currently on a five-match winning streak, including the 2019 Big 12 Tournament Championship in Lawrence, Kan. on April 20-21.
• BU is one of six Big 12 teams to make the NCAA Tournament field and was one of two to host a Super Regional last weekend. The Bears are accompanied by No. 2 Texas and No. 10 TCU at the final site in Orlando.
• BU is 16-5 against the NCAA Tournament field, including wins over No. 2 seed Texas, No. 7 Mississippi State, No. 8 USC, No. 10 TCU, No. 11 UCLA and No. 15 Illinois.
• All five of Baylor's 2019 losses have come to NCAA Tournament teams.
TEAM NOTES
• The Bears are 8-2 all-time as the No. 6 seed in the NCAA Championship. BU was last the No. 6 seed in 2009 where they advanced to the NCAA quarterfinals in College Station.
• BU is 17-5 against ranked opponents this season.
• BU won its league-leading ninth Big 12 postseason title with a 4-1 win over No. 2 Texas.
• BU is 22-7 in the doubles point this season and 21-1 when winning and 4-3 when dropping the opening point.
• With a win over Oklahoma State on April 7, Baylor captured its 18th 20-win season in 23 years and first under head coach Brian Boland.
• With last Friday's win over UCLA, Baylor captured its 12th 25-win season in program history and first since 2015.
• Head coach Brian Boland is one win away from 600 career wins.
• Four Bears were selected to the NCAA Individual Championships May 20-25 in Orlando, Fla. Johannes Schretter and Matias Soto earned at-large singles bids while Jimmy Bendeck and Sven Lah are the top-seeded doubles team.
STREAKS & TRENDS
• For the 22nd-consecutive year, the Baylor men's tennis team secured a bid to the NCAA Tournament and booked its spot in the NCAA quarterfinals for the 13th time in program history.
• Sven Lah leads the Bears with a six-match singles winning streak while Constantin Frantzen and Johannes Schretter are 10-2 in their last 12 doubles matches together.
WHEN HOSTING THE NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP
• Baylor hosted the NCAA First and Second Rounds for the 14th time overall and 13th time in the last 17 seasons on May 3-4.
• When BU has hosted the NCAA First and Second Rounds, it has advanced to the Round of 16 every time (14 seasons).
• BU is 2-0 when hosting the NCAA Round of 16. Baylor took a 4-1 win over No. 18 South Florida in 2015 and a 4-1 victory against No. 11 UCLA last Friday.
HOME SWEET HOME
• The Bears were a perfect 16-0 at home this season and won nine matches over ranked opponents in that stretch.
• With a 16-0 record, BU secured its ninth perfect season at home and first since 2014.
• With three NCAA wins this season, BU is now 31-1 all-time in the NCAA Championship when playing on its home courts. Its lone loss came when BU was hosting the final site to eventual national champion Virginia in the 2015 NCAA National Semifinals.
• BU is 32-1 in its last 33 home matches dating back to the 2017 season.
• In all of its 2019 home wins, Baylor outscored its opponents 86-10 in 16 matches.
SERIES HISTORY VS. FLORIDA
• Baylor is 6-6 all-time against Florida, including 1-0 in the NCAA Tournament.
• In 2005, top-seeded BU pushed past third-seeded Florida, 4-1, in the NCAA Semifinals to advance to the team's second-straight national title match.
• The Bears faced the Gators for 10 straight seasons (2004-2013) in the series but will now face each other for the first time in six years.
• In the last matchup on Feb. 23, 2013, the 20th-ranked Bears took a 4-3 win over the 16th-ranked Gators in Gainesville.
• The Bears started out the series with three straight wins, but the Gators are 6-3 against BU since 2006.
WHAT'S NEXT
The winner of Thursday's quarterfinal match will advance to the NCAA semifinals on Saturday at 11 a.m. CT in Orlando, Fla. If BU advances, it would face the winner of No. 2 Texas and No. 10 TCU.
FOLLOW ALONG
Live scoring and live stream links can be found on the Bears' schedule page at www.BaylorBears.com.
Fans can also follow the team's Facebook, Twitter and Instagram account for live coverage: @BaylorMTennis.
Baylor Bear Insider
As excited as he was to get through the NCAA Super Regional match with UCLA and make it to the final site, Baylor coach Brian Boland said the sixth-seeded Bears (25-5) are not "going to Orlando to be in the Elite Eight."
Boland, who won four national championships at Virginia, really "believes in this team." Baylor faces third-seeded Florida (24-3) at 6 p.m. CDT Thursday at the USTA National Campus in Orlando, Fla.
"100 percent," Boland said. "It took a while for me to start talking to the guys about what is possible. And I do believe that these guys are in the right place mentally and physically to compete with anyone in the country. So, there's no reason that we can't go and stay. But, at the same time, we've got to focus on Thursday night against Florida. Every match there is going to be incredibly competitive and close and come down to a few points here and there."
Baylor has won 16 of its last 18 matches, including beating second-ranked Texas, 4-1, in the Big 12 Championship final last month in Lawrence, Kan. The Bears also beat three straight ranked teams at home in the NCAA tournament, knocking off 11th-seeded UCLA, 4-1, last Friday.
"I think we're playing as good as we've ever played, all of us as a team," said senior Jimmy Bendeck, who is 16-6 in singles and ranked No. 1 in the country in doubles with sophomore Sven Lah. "Tennis is different every day, so you wake up and you don't feel the same as you did the day before. But, I definitely think we're feeling confident, and I know we're going to be the most-prepared team out there."
Since losing two of three matches at the ITA National Team Indoor Championships back in February, Florida has won 18 of 19. The Gators avenged a 4-3 loss to Tennessee in the SEC tournament by defeating the Vols, 4-2, last week in the Round of 16.
A young roster is led by eighth-ranked sophomore Oliver Crawford. Freshman Sam Riffice plays No. 2 singles and is ranked 54th, while sophomores Andy Andrade, Johannes Ingildsen and Duarte Vale are 59th, 90thand 113th, respectively.
"Florida has been a strong team for a long time," Boland said. "We're going to have to come out and play some good doubles again. That's been something that's helped us all year long. And if it doesn't go our way, just be willing to embrace the competition after that. We have to play some great tennis, and I know we will. The guys believe in themselves and they're ready to go."
Baylor also has five ranked singles players, led by senior Johannes Schretter at No. 20. Sophomore Matias Soto is 18-4 and ranked 25th, followed by Lah, senior Will Little and freshman Adrian Boitan at 76th, 78thand 112th, respectfully.
Boitan, a first-semester freshman, is 16-4 overall and 10-2 at No. 3 singles.
"If he's not the best, he's undoubtedly one of the best freshmen in the country," Boland said of Boitan, who was named Big 12 Freshman of the Year. "He embraces the pressure, he loves the moment. And as the arena gets a little bigger, Adrian gets a little better."
Boitan had clinched four consecutive matches before Bendeck closed out the win over UCLA by beating the Bruins' Roscoe Bellamy, 6-2, 3-6, 6-2, at No. 6.
"It was almost like a second Senior Day," said Bendeck, who graduates this week along with Little and Schretter. "It was a real last home match, and it was just an incredible experience. It was incredible to see all the student-athletes, all the students, all the people from Waco that came out and supported us."
Bendeck gets to finish his collegiate career less than three hours away from his home in Hollywood, Fla.
"I am from Florida, so personally I'm excited to be back in the humidity," Bendeck said. "It's going to be a little warmer, a little more humid, the courts are going to be a little faster, but nothing too different."
In his one year off from collegiate coaching, Boland was the head of men's tennis for USTA Player Development and was based at the USTA National Campus.
"It's the home of American tennis," Boland said. "It's a great facility, it's beautiful, and certainly I'm familiar with all the surroundings – the indoors, the outdoors, the community and the area. There's always a benefit to being familiar with where you're going. At the same time, these guys adapt and adjust to whatever's thrown at them. There are so many unpredictable, you've just got to embrace it."
Baylor is one of three Big 12 teams in the Elite Eight and would face the winner between second-seeded Texas and No. 10 TCU in Saturday's semifinal if the Bears get by Florida.
"To be able to finish your season in dual matches before the NCAA tournament with Big 12 teams is a huge advantage," Boland said. "Every time you're playing one of the Big 12 teams, you're looking at a competition that can go deep into the NCAA tournament. I don't think anything prepares you better. Every team can play, every date matters, and you have to show up and really bring your best."
Thursday's match will be broadcast live on the Tennis Channel, with live scoring available at USTANationalCampus.com.
WACO, Texas -- Playing at the final site for the 13th time in program history, sixth-seeded and sixth-ranked Baylor will challenge third-seeded and fourth-ranked Florida in the NCAA quarterfinals Thursday at 6 p.m. CT in Orlando, Fla.
The match will be live on the Tennis Channel with Sam Gore and Katrina Adams covering the action in Orlando.
TOP STORYLINES
• The Bears sealed a perfect home record in 2019 (16-0) when they took a 4-1 win over No. 11 UCLA in the NCAA Super Regional last Friday. BU also defeated No. 42 Utah and No. 20 Michigan in the first and second rounds in Waco.
• The Bears look to advance to their sixth NCAA semifinal match and first since 2015.
• BU is playing its 14th consecutive ranked opponent and eighth straight in the postseason.
• BU is 3-0 against SEC teams in 2019, including a top-three upset over Mississippi State at the ITA National Team Indoor Championships.
• BU is currently on a five-match winning streak, including the 2019 Big 12 Tournament Championship in Lawrence, Kan. on April 20-21.
• BU is one of six Big 12 teams to make the NCAA Tournament field and was one of two to host a Super Regional last weekend. The Bears are accompanied by No. 2 Texas and No. 10 TCU at the final site in Orlando.
• BU is 16-5 against the NCAA Tournament field, including wins over No. 2 seed Texas, No. 7 Mississippi State, No. 8 USC, No. 10 TCU, No. 11 UCLA and No. 15 Illinois.
• All five of Baylor's 2019 losses have come to NCAA Tournament teams.
TEAM NOTES
• The Bears are 8-2 all-time as the No. 6 seed in the NCAA Championship. BU was last the No. 6 seed in 2009 where they advanced to the NCAA quarterfinals in College Station.
• BU is 17-5 against ranked opponents this season.
• BU won its league-leading ninth Big 12 postseason title with a 4-1 win over No. 2 Texas.
• BU is 22-7 in the doubles point this season and 21-1 when winning and 4-3 when dropping the opening point.
• With a win over Oklahoma State on April 7, Baylor captured its 18th 20-win season in 23 years and first under head coach Brian Boland.
• With last Friday's win over UCLA, Baylor captured its 12th 25-win season in program history and first since 2015.
• Head coach Brian Boland is one win away from 600 career wins.
• Four Bears were selected to the NCAA Individual Championships May 20-25 in Orlando, Fla. Johannes Schretter and Matias Soto earned at-large singles bids while Jimmy Bendeck and Sven Lah are the top-seeded doubles team.
STREAKS & TRENDS
• For the 22nd-consecutive year, the Baylor men's tennis team secured a bid to the NCAA Tournament and booked its spot in the NCAA quarterfinals for the 13th time in program history.
• Sven Lah leads the Bears with a six-match singles winning streak while Constantin Frantzen and Johannes Schretter are 10-2 in their last 12 doubles matches together.
WHEN HOSTING THE NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP
• Baylor hosted the NCAA First and Second Rounds for the 14th time overall and 13th time in the last 17 seasons on May 3-4.
• When BU has hosted the NCAA First and Second Rounds, it has advanced to the Round of 16 every time (14 seasons).
• BU is 2-0 when hosting the NCAA Round of 16. Baylor took a 4-1 win over No. 18 South Florida in 2015 and a 4-1 victory against No. 11 UCLA last Friday.
HOME SWEET HOME
• The Bears were a perfect 16-0 at home this season and won nine matches over ranked opponents in that stretch.
• With a 16-0 record, BU secured its ninth perfect season at home and first since 2014.
• With three NCAA wins this season, BU is now 31-1 all-time in the NCAA Championship when playing on its home courts. Its lone loss came when BU was hosting the final site to eventual national champion Virginia in the 2015 NCAA National Semifinals.
• BU is 32-1 in its last 33 home matches dating back to the 2017 season.
• In all of its 2019 home wins, Baylor outscored its opponents 86-10 in 16 matches.
SERIES HISTORY VS. FLORIDA
• Baylor is 6-6 all-time against Florida, including 1-0 in the NCAA Tournament.
• In 2005, top-seeded BU pushed past third-seeded Florida, 4-1, in the NCAA Semifinals to advance to the team's second-straight national title match.
• The Bears faced the Gators for 10 straight seasons (2004-2013) in the series but will now face each other for the first time in six years.
• In the last matchup on Feb. 23, 2013, the 20th-ranked Bears took a 4-3 win over the 16th-ranked Gators in Gainesville.
• The Bears started out the series with three straight wins, but the Gators are 6-3 against BU since 2006.
WHAT'S NEXT
The winner of Thursday's quarterfinal match will advance to the NCAA semifinals on Saturday at 11 a.m. CT in Orlando, Fla. If BU advances, it would face the winner of No. 2 Texas and No. 10 TCU.
FOLLOW ALONG
Live scoring and live stream links can be found on the Bears' schedule page at www.BaylorBears.com.
Fans can also follow the team's Facebook, Twitter and Instagram account for live coverage: @BaylorMTennis.
Players Mentioned
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