Thursday, 03/08/2012

MORAGA, Calif. - The Saint Mary's men's tennis team returns to the court this weekend and looks to win their third consecutive match when they take on Idaho on Friday. The match between the Gaels and Vandals is set to begin at 3 p.m. at the Timothy Korth Tennis Complex.

Saint Mary's enters the match with a 4-7 record and the Gaels have won three of their last four matches, with the only loss in that stretch on the road at No. 8 UCLA. Most recently, SMC defeated UC Davis, 5-2, in Moraga on March 3 and topped UC Riverside on February 26 in Los Angeles, 6-1.

Sherif Hamdy leads Saint Mary's this season with a 7-4 record in singles play, including a 4-1 mark at the No. 3 spot. Along with Hamdy, Seif El Sherbini, Joakim Norstrom and Maxime Olivan have all won their last two singles matches.

Idaho enters Friday's match with a 5-6 overall record, while the Vandals have gone 3-6 in away matches. Their No. 1 player, Marcus Cirstea, is 3-8 this season, while Alan Shin leads the team with a 5-5 singles record. The Vandals also have the No. 42 ranked doubles team in the country of Andrew Dobbs and Marius Cirstea.

Saint Mary's and Idaho matched up twice last season. The Vandals defeated the Gaels, 4-2, in the Boise State Spring Break Classic on March 25, before Saint Mary's upset No. 46 Idaho in Moraga on April 17, 6-1. SMC and Idaho have played four total matches in the history of the programs, with each team winning two of the matches.

Following the match against Idaho, the Gaels will have to wait till March 20 for their next match. Saint Mary's will finally get the chance to open WCC play against San Francisco at home on March 20 at 3 p.m.