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SECTION
THE BATTALION
Thursday, April 25, 2002
edemption is key for Ags in Big 12 tourney
&M men open
igainst Colorado
By Kevin Espenlaub
THE BATTALION
When the Big 12 men’s tennis tournament
Degins Friday afternoon at the A&M Varsity Tennis
Tenter, there will be an interesting story line wait
ing for the third-seeded Aggies (18-5, 5-2).
If they can advance past their first round match
against sixth-seeded University of Colorado (12-10,
T-5), their chance for redemption could come as
aarly as Saturday when the Aggies could meet the
^econd-seeded University of Texas (20-2, 6-1). The
Dossible contest would be a rematch of last week’s
latch in Austin that saw the Aggies lose to the
^onghorns, 4-3.
“We played Colorado a few weeks ago and beat
them 6-1,” said A&M freshman Lester Cook. “We
lare not overlooking them, but we are pretty confi-
[dent that we can beat Colorado, and we’re definitely
[looking forward to a rematch against Texas.”
Of the eight Big 12 schools with men’s tennis
[programs, Texas holds the top three seeds, led by
Baylor University (22-1, 7-0), which will begin
action against Oklahoma at 10 a.m. Friday. The
Bears claimed a 4-3 victory in College Station on
Saturday over the Aggies to claim the Big 12 regular
(season title.
The winner of the tournament will have to win
j three matches in as many days, and the Aggies hope
to blow through Colorado and Texas to earn a
[chance to take on Baylor in the finals on Sunday.
‘We’ve addressed as a team the fact that we have
| to take one match at a time this weekend,” said
A&M head coach Tim Cass. “We're planning on
making a few adjustments, in particular with our
doubles lineup, coming into this tournament, and
hopefully in those losses to Texas and Baylor, we’ve
been able to learn some things and the outcome will
be different if we meet them again this week.”
The Aggies play at 4 p.m. on Friday against
Colorado and, with a victory, would be set to play
See Redemption on page 2B
Above: Texas A&M sen
ior Keith From slices a
backhand against
Baylor on Saturday at
the Varsity Tennis
Center. From has been
battling injuries for the
last two weeks, but is
expected to play this
weekend in the Big 12
tournament. The
Aggies are defending
tournament champi
ons. Right: A&M sen
ior Olivia Karlikova
prepares to return a
volley against Kansas
on Friday. Karlikova
and the A&M women's
tennis team will search
for the first women’s
Big 12 tournament
title in school history.
PHOTOS BY STUART VILLANUEVA • THE BATTALION
Women take aim
at championship
By Dallas Shipp
THE BATTALION
The No. 23 Texas A&M women’s tennis team is
on a mission this weekend as it hosts the 2002 Big
12 tournament. Anything less than the tournament
title will not be good enough.
After losing to No. 10 Texas in a regular season
matchup, the Aggies watched as the hope of their
first Big 12 championship slipped through their
hands. However, they will get a second chance at
the Longhorns in the Big 12 tournament finals if
both teams advance.
The University of Texas enters the tournament
with the No. 1 seed after winning the regular sea
son title and will face the winner of No. 8 Colorado
(11-11, 4-7) and No. 9 Texas Tech (9-12, 4-7) in
their first match of what should be a stroll to the
championship match on Sunday.
The Aggies enter the tournament with the No. 2
seed and will face the winner of No. 7 Oklahoma
(14-7, 4-7) and No. 10 Nebraska (13-8, 3-8), who
has struggled in Big 12 play this season.
“It’s a big advantage to play No. 2,” said senior
Olivia Karlikova. “It gives you a better opportunity
to make it to the finals and get another chance at
Texas, which is what everyone wants.”
Although the Aggies should have no problem
advancing to the finals against Texas on Sunday,
they know how important each match is and are not
looking past anyone.
“We have to take it one match at a time,” said
A&M senior Majorie Terburgh. “We cannot look
ahead to playing Texas on Sunday. Every team is
dangerous.”
The Aggies are looking to advance to the finals
for the first time since 1997 and are the only team
in the field with a legitimate shot at knocking off
the Longhorns, who have won every Big 12 title
since the conference’s inception in 1997.
The tournament was moved from Lubbock ear
lier this season after Texas Tech was unable to fin
ish its new facilities by a given date. This is the
See Aim on page 2B
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