Cougar netters play Boise State in USTA College MatchDay

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The No. 41 BYU men’s tennis team will play No. 45 Boise State on Saturday at 9 a.m. as part of the USTA College MatchDay.

“Boise State is a great team and they have some great wins recently,” BYU coach Brad Pearce said. “Our guys know what to expect and I feel good that we’ve beaten them at home recently.”

BYU's Keaton Cullimore makes a return during a match last fall. BYU plays BSU Saturday (Photo by Sarah Hill).
BYU’s Keaton Cullimore makes a return during a match last fall. BYU plays BSU Saturday (Photo by Sarah Hill).

The Cougars (15–4, 4–0 WCC) come into the match on a four-game winning streak, including a 6–1 victory over Saint Mary’s in Provo on March 29. They also are on top of the West Coast Conference standings, one game ahead of No. 10 Pepperdine (16-4, 3-0 WCC).

Not only is BYU in a tight battle for the conference championship, but they are also looking to secure a spot in the NCAA Tournament. A victory over another ranked team, like Boise State, could be vital.

“We’re right on the border of getting into the NCAA tournament right now,” Pearce said. “Every match against a ranked opponent is really big.”

A key matchup in singles will be BYU’s Patrick Kawka, ranked No. 37 nationally, and Boise State’s Andrew Bettles, ranked No. 29 nationally.

BYU will also be looking to  sophomore Francis Sargeant, 15–3 on the season, and sophomore Keaton Cullimore, winner of seven straight, to pick up key victories on Saturday.

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