March 14, 2007

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The University of Memphis men's tennis team (3-8) will host two non-conference schools this weekend, opening a stretch where the Tigers will play six of their next seven matches in the Bluff City. The Tigers will host Indiana State, Saturday, beginning at 10 a.m. at Rhodes College, then will welcome Tennessee Tech to town on Sunday, beginning at noon.

Indiana State is 4-4 coming in to Saturday's contest and is 2-4 so far this season on the road. The Sycamores have faced just one common opponent with the Tigers, falling to Southern Miss, 4-3. The Tigers will see Southern Miss on Apr. 6th.

The Sycamores have a young line-up, with two juniors, one sophomore and four freshmen on the roster. But junior Rishi Behl is providing strong leadership for the younger players, coming in to Saturday's contest with a six-match winning streak at No. 2 singles. Fellow junior Anton Tsymbalov carries the only other multi-match winning streak for ISU, having won each of his last two matches at No. 1 singles in a pair of 4-3 ISU losses. Behl and Tsymbalov will likely team together at No. 1 doubles, where the tandem is 5-2 for the season and have won their last five straight matches.

Memphis is looking to snap a four-match losing streak, which also matches the number of ranked opponents the Tigers have played in the last four times out. All eight of the Tigers' losses have come to ranked opponents and the Tigers are 3-0 against non-ranked foes heading in to this weekend's contests.

Junior Amrit Narasimhan should have some confidence heading in to this weekend, as he was 2-1 at No. 1 singles last week while the Tigers were facing three ranked opponents. Narasimhan beat the No. 1 players at both Arizona State and Arizona before falling to Adam Holmstrom, the No. 19 ranked singles player in the country. Narasimhan is now 2-3 at the top singles spot and is 7-4 in dual season play, leading the team with his seven dual wins.

Two Tigers are two wins back of Narasimhan in dual season play as sophomore Benedikt Fischer and freshman Charlie Ramsay are each 5-6 in dual season play. Fischer, who is 3-3 at No. 3 singles and 1-2 at No. 2, also carries a 1-1 mark at No. 1 singles and is riding a one-match winning streak after a win against his opponent from Denver. Ramsay, who is 10-14 on the year, is 5-6 at No. 4 singles and is 4-6 at No. 2 doubles during the spring when teamed with Jimmy Khougassian. The tandem is 11-12 on the year in doubles after going 7-6 during the fall.

Both non-conference matches this weekend will be played at Rhodes College. Admission is free, but fans may need to check in with the Rhodes security officer on duty at the entrance for a guest parking tag.