ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Another challenging week awaits the Tritons men's and women's tennis programs as both are set for a week full of opponents ranked in the ITA national polls.
MEN'S MATCH 18: No. 6 Embry-Riddle (8-2) at Eckerd (12-5, 0-3 SSC) | Saturday – 1:00 PM
MEN'S MATCH 19: No. 7 Barry (11-2, 3-0 SSC) at Eckerd | Sunday – 10:00 AM
WOMEN'S MATCH 15: Eckerd (2-12, 0-4 SSC) at No. 34 Rollins (8-3, 0-0 SSC) | Tuesday – 4:00 PM
WOMEN'S MATCH 16: No. 2 Barry (11-0, 3-0 SSC) at Eckerd | Friday – 3:00 PM
WOMEN'S MATCH 17: No. 31 Embry-Riddle (5-6) at Eckerd | Saturday – 1:00 PM
LAST WEEK: Last week began with a rough patch as both the men and women faced off with a pair of nationally ranked opponents, falling to both. However, the Tritons rebounded with sweeps over the Webber International (Fla.) Warriors on Sunday.
ROLLINS: The women's team kicks off competition this week with a Tuesday afternoon contest in Winter Park as the Tritons look to record their second consecutive win of the season. The No. 34 Tars enter the contest riding a five-match win streak with their most recent loss being a narrow 5-4 decision at Embry-Riddle on March 9. Shannon Etten also comes into the contest boasting a No. 33 national ranking in singles for Rollins.
BARRY: Both Buccaneer squads came into the 2016 spring season with National Championship experience as the men are the reigning champions whereas the women's team fell in the final championship to Armstrong State. The Triton women get the first chance to upset Barry as the Bucs visit the Bullard Courts on Friday afternoon while the men have to wait until Sunday morning. On the women's side, the Bucs' lineup is loaded with five nationally-ranked positions with three singles players and a pair of doubles teams. The men have one fewer in each category but look to be just as dangerous.
EMBRY-RIDDLE: Saturday marks the only day with both teams will compete at the same time as the Eagles visit Eckerd. Similar to Barry, ERAU entered the season after a successful season saw deep runs in the NAIA tournament before transitioning to NCAA Division II for the 2016 season. The men have yet to see much change as the Eagles boast a pair of ranked singles players and a No. 6 team ranking. On the women's side, the Eagles might show a losing record, but four of those losses come at the hands of other ranked opponents while the other two came against Division I programs.
