Editor’s note: With several sports going on, Wildcat Wrap serves as a recap that focuses on the Arizona programs that we do not have the time to cover on a regular basis but are certainly worthy of recognition. Arizona men’s tennis will host the ITA Kickoff Weekend this Saturday and Sunday, with the winner moving […]
Editor’s note: With several sports going on, Wildcat Wrap serves as a recap that focuses on the Arizona programs that we do not have the time to cover on a regular basis but are certainly worthy of recognition.
Arizona men’s tennis will host the ITA Kickoff Weekend this Saturday and Sunday, with the winner moving on to the prestigious ITA National Indoors next month.
No. 16 Arizona (3-1) will face LSU Saturday at 1 p.m. MST. The winner will take on either Florida State or Pepperdine Sunday at 2 p.m.
Arizona enters the weekend fresh off a 4-1 home win over the Seminoles Wednesday afternoon. The Wildcats lost the doubles point but swept singles action. Earlier in the week, Arizona swept New Mexico State in a doubleheader.
The UA began the season with a 4-2 road loss to Oklahoma. The loss dropped Arizona five spots in the ITA team rankings.
This weekend marks an opportunity for Arizona to return to ITA National Indoors after missing out on the event last season.
Women’s tennis
The women’s tennis program will also be competing in the ITA Kickoff Weekend, with its two matches coming on the road.
Arizona (3-1) travels to Austin, Texas, where it’ll face the No. 17 Longhorns Friday at 2 p.m. Arizona will play either Cal or Baylor Saturday.
Arizona opened the season last Friday with a sweep of UC Davis and UC San Diego. The Wildcats then took on No. 19 USC Monday, falling to the Trojans 5-2. Arizona won the doubles point, and Tanvi Narendran picked up the lone singles point for the Wildcats.
Arizona concluded Monday with a win over NAU.
Men’s golf
Men’s golf picked up a pair of big wins this week, defeating rival ASU and former Pac-12 foe UCLA in match play contests at the Copper Cup in Laguna Nigel, Calif. The event also featured USC.
Arizona, which entered the event ranked outside the top 25, beat No. 7 ASU in convincing fashion Monday with a 8.5-3.5 victory. Arizona received singles points from Dillon Dean, Filip Jakubcik, Finn McCall, Taishi Moto, Zach Pollo, William Wistrand and Tianyi Xong.
Notably, Dean, McCall, Moto and Wistrand are all in their first season competing for the Wildcats.
On the second and final day of competition, Arizona defeated No. 21 UCLA 7-5 to win the event. Pollo, a senior, closed out the match.
Winning the Copper Cup should give Jim Anderson’s club some momentum entering the heart of spring season. Arizona returns home next week to host the N.I.T. Jan. 26-27 at Omni Tucson National Resort.
Swimming and diving
A pair of Arizona swimming and diving athletes earned Big 12 weekly honors.
Senior Julia Wozniak won conference honors after setting a personal best and NCAA qualifying time in the 100 free (48.36) at the Big 12 West Championships in Tempe. Wozniak was also a part of two winning relay teams, the 200-free relay and the 400-medley relay.
On the men’s side, freshman Luke Hernandez won Big 12 honors in diving for placing first in the 1-meter (332.45) and 3-meter (369.30). Hernandez helped lead the Arizona men to a team win in the diving event.
Arizona closes out the regular season when it faces ASU on Feb. 6.
Category: General Sports
