Daily Skiff

Media Credit: Skiff archives Sophomore Jack Seider returns the ball during a doubles match against the University of Texas at Arlington last season. Seider started last year's spring season with 11-0 record with doubles partner Zach Nichols. [Click to enlarge]

The No. 34-ranked men's tennis team will continue to battle its difficult schedule when they face No. 15 Texas A&M University tonight.

The Horned Frogs are coming off a Saturday match in Norman, Okla., where they suffered a 5-2 loss against the University of Oklahoma.

Head coach Dave Borelli said the team lost Saturday because the team needs to play together and meet its full potential. The team is now 1-3 overall in the spring and has yet to play a conference match.

Although Oklahoma and the University of Texas at Austin have both added to the team's loss count, Borelli said his team is building up and improving for Mountain West Conference play.

"I think it's better for the team to play a harder schedule at the start of the year to prepare us to try and win the conference." Borelli said.

Last year, the Aggies slipped past the Horned Frogs with a 4-3 win. A&M comes into Wednesday's match with a 2-2 record overall.

Sophomore Emanuel Brighiu said the team needs to keep up the hard work at practice and stay positive about their upcoming match against A&M.

"They may be in a bigger conference and have a tougher schedule each year, but that isn't going to stop us from trying to do our best and try for a win," Brighiu said.

Sophomore Casey Powers said if the team can win against A&M it may give them the confidence they need to start a winning streak.

"It's very important to try and win our match Wednesday," Powers said. "Last year we were able to get on a long winning streak once we built momentum and beating A&M could give us the momentum we need to get going."

Although the team's schedule has proved to be a challenge, to be the best you have to play the best, Borelli said.

"You have to go out and play the best people," Borelli said. "I don't care about our win-loss record; I'd rather go 10-10 in beating some really good teams rather than going 20-0 in beating nobody."

The team will have played 11 straight ranked teams before they start conference play in April against Brigham Young University.

After Wednesday's match, the team will get back on the road to face the University of Tulsa on Feb. 21.

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