unc has won the first set in 4 matches so far.

Just noticed that Ines Deheza, who played at #2 last weekend, is not playing singles so everyone moved up and Mason Strickland is playing at #6.

Aggies fall 4-0. UNCs top 2 players are freshmen and ranked 1 and 5. They were the top 2 in the nation last year according to the UNC site.

MidTnAg, you asked who might be replacing Tina at the top spot next year. If you ask Mark or Howard they will always say it's an open discussion. But here's the bottom line, Howard has eluded to a high powered fish recruit coming in from Astonia who he says is capable of holding down the #1 line. That being the case that would obviously be great. I don't know if we've ever had a fish hold down the top spot. Given another long off season, if one really exists for these girls, hopefully Inez can come back strong as ever next year. Her knees have been a touchy situation all season. Plus, I'm sure she misses playing with her sister. Saska has definitely turned out to be a God send holding down #2 or 3 in pretty good fashion. Watching her though, I don't know if she plays patiently enough to be a consistent #1 line player. Rutuja will probably have to move up a line or two from her current #4 or 5 position. Stefania is at her element at #4 or 5. Mamalat will most likely be a main stay at #6 next year (barring injuries else where). Mason will need to pick it up a notch or two to be a force in the lineup. Losing Paula to injury and Jana McCord bailing ship that hurts. So as it stands to be at full complement of players there may be 3 new recruits again next year. The plus side is we will be balanced classmen wise (3 fish, soph, jr), and we lose no one next year to graduation, but from a coach's point of view that has to be a double edged sword. Every fourth year you lose a third of your team continuity wise that has to be tough.

To add insult to injury, tu beat Cal 4-1 in the next round.

Some of you guys love ripping on me as if I don't know what I am talking about. I predicted the longhorns would easily dispatch of an above average team in Cal. Just reaffirms how poor of a loss it was to Cal. The fact that Vinsant cramped makes things sound better that the Aggies lost. The truth is, it should have never even come down to that match. Szabo could have easily lost without a miracle comeback. If he loses, it's not even a close match. I just tell it like it is. Another subpar season. If anyone disagrees with that, then they have lower standards than I do for our sports teams at Texas A&M!!

Ok so Withrow and Ore went down easily which they shouldn't have. To me that and the doubles point was the most disappointing thing. The fact is that Szabo Did win, miracle comeback or not. Probably Vinsant would have won, had he not cramped, maybe not, who knows. It was a bad loss in terms that we missed out on the sweet sixteen, but not as terrible loss as the one to, say Ole Miss. The season itself was the best for some years. The post season needs to improve. The team will be almost the same next year and should improve.

Still SEC champs

I'm just glad that SlickRick is a man of his word.

Hopefully he's 2/3 aggie. He never cheats or steals...

There is always next year guys. Isn't that what everyone always says about this team. We will be really talented so just wait until next year.

Rick is right about that....as a little boy I remember well "just wait til next year Ole Army"....we had a solid season, but certainly fell short of one main goal which was to make a good run at the NCAA's...no excuses....lost the doubles point to Cal....should never have come down to cramps on court two, but it did...Shane was a warrior, but sometimes your body just want let you do what you would like it to...that said, we will be talented again next year, and we will start fresh in a new season....so will everyone else in the country, regardless of how they did this year....the beauty of sport...

Anyone know if AJ Cantanzariti, mens tennis recruit, will compete for a spot right away? He is a blue chip recruit.

I am pretty sure that he will. I think the order will change but wouldn't be surprised if he fills Juniors spot.

Rick, here's my, "I told you so" I knew you were lying when you wrote your mea culpa on this site. Since you yourself can't seem to resist the temptation of saying, "I told you so." here's a question for you, if you were Eric Hyman would you pull the plug on Denton since he can't seem to get over the hump? That's what they did to Bobby K. on the women’s side. If so, who would you see being in the position? Steve can't hit the balls for the guys, he can't yell out where to place their next shot, he can't perform magic and make the opposing player hit into the net every time. What I've seen from our men is a tremendous amount of fight, tenacity, and intelligence. A good deal of that is inherent with our guys as they are all extremely competitive but it takes people like Steve and Bobby to keep that non-physical stuff channeled in the right direction. For the most part from what I can see that is being done first rate. That along with the physical conditioning which I truly believe Shane just reached his limit on the court when he started cramping not because of lack of conditioning. All that said, I don't see a more promising coaching prospect on the horizon. And yes, I too believe that next year will be better but only time will tell. Steve’s biggest problem it would seem is his advancement up the chain of success just are not quantum leaps like Howard’s and Mark’s.

As much as I am unimpressed with Denton's performance, no I don't think he should be fired. It was annoys me most are the ones on here that try to speak of the work that he has done as being well done. It is merely average at best. Most of my comments are directed simply for that reason. Always lots of hype, but there has never been a year that they have done above expectations. That is all.

I guess someone took over the SlickRick handle. Surely he wouldn't go back on his word and come back. Must be an imposter.

Just read where UNC are playing for the national title tomorrow after beating Stanford today. At least the girls went out to one of the best teams. Pretty impressive considering the girls had a win over them earlier in the season at UNC. Also they had a win over final four Florida. Not bad for a team with only one upperclassmen. Will be interesting who all they are bringing in next year. I know that one has signed and I believe they have one if not two more spots to fill.

Actually for me the guys did exceed expectations this year winning the SEC tournament and finishing second in the SEC. I can't ever remember an Aggie team that would have been favored or would have won the SEC tournament. I think they're still one top international player away from being a top five program. Unfortunately Denton and McKinley have never demonstrated the ability to get that one guy.

Might be the dumbest quote of all time. We have only been in the SEC for a few years. Another prediction from Slick: In the final rankings there will not be one SEC team in the top 10 in the national rankings.

Oklahoma and USC will play for the title tomorrow. John Roddick in the finals in less time than good ole Steve Denton been at the helm. Not one SEC team made it past the round of 16 in case you guys were wondering.

Rick, I feel tempted to take you up on your bet about no SEC teams being in the top 10 for the final rankings. Georgia was #8 and we were 10 before the championships. After the first three or four positions are filled with the final four teams (a few dark horses have made it to the final 4 in the past so they’ll be in the top 10 but not the top 4) looking back at years past, the ITA typically shuffles the top 10 to 15 teams around pretty good to make it look like they knew what they were doing throughout the season. That said, the body of work done this season by both SEC top 10 teams I think warrants consideration for a top 10 finish. It irks me to say, but Georgia obviously has the upper hand there, even though we beat them during the season. But yeah, I’ll take your bet.

Supposedly theres a French guy on campus that might be our best player if he gets cleared to play? I hate to already be talking "next year", but if he's that good it would be huge.

UCLA beats NC 4-3 for the women's title.

UCLA beats NC 4-3 for the women's title.

Fighter, I don't want to bet you because you maybe correct. It will be close. My point still is valid however with no teams advancing past the round of 16. I have no problem giving Denton and the guys their credit. Winning any conference title is a good thing. However, This was a very down year though for the SEC. Normally Georgia and Tennessee have had much stronger teams in years past and are in the running for the national title.

USC beats OU 4-2 for men's title.

Rick, I think your geography and history may be mixed up. Georgia has won 6 men's titles and 2 women's. Tennessee has never won any national title in tennis mens or womens. Florida is the only other SEC team to win a national title and that's only the women. No guts on the bet huh? I think people call that being able to dish it out but not take it.
Side note, the ladies took it on the chin in the first round of the induvidual championships. One last shot in doubles for the ladies. Shane had no updates that I could find. Hopefully with some strong lettermen/persons returning next year our travel budget won't be busted by going to the Sweet 16 at Baylor. And one last prediction from me, Rick, BOTH teams will be making the 90 mile ride there next year.

I am in Athens. Chistina and and Saska lost on Thursday to Cal. I am sick of playing Cal players. Men play tonight. Doubles start on Friday.

I was told by a team player that Inez is having knee surgery.

Hopefully with Inez the outcome with rehab will be different than her sister. Paula had surgery on her shoulder and rehab never got the power and motion back thus her being out this year. I heard the same thing about Inez during the first 2 rounds, she just needed to get the season completely behind her. Howard and Mark are raising warriors there's no two ways about it. Janelle was hobbled severely in Michigan a couple of years ago at the NCAAs, but still almost came back to win her match. Inez is the same way, she was hurting against the sips in the second round, that's the only way that girl on #2 could beat her - she couldn't move like normal. But she was out there gutting it out.

quote:

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This was a very down year though for the SEC.

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For arguments sake, how can you make that statement while at the same time complain about the Ags getting bounced in the Round of 32? 9 SEC teams made it to the Round of 32, four advanced and lost in the next round. The men won an SEC title. Do you complain every year the men don't win a National Championship, because that's the only next step to take after a conference championship.

*Edit to correct for bottom half of bracket, which I missed on the first review. I still stand behind my assertion that complaining about the Ags loss in the second round while stating that the SEC was in a down year is talking out of both sides of your mouth.


[This message has been edited by carl spacklers hat (edited 5/22/2014 4:31p).]

Hey Fighter, Tennessee made the national finals match a few years ago and two other quarterfinals in the last few years so I am not sure that you are doing your research. I am speaking about the men not the women. The women had five teams in the top 10 since you brought it up.

And Carl, you are wrong as well. You said two teams won one more round after the round of 16 and that is incorrect. No team from the SEC made it past the round of 16.

How about our guys make it past the 2nd or past the round of 16 once. They have yet to do that in their very average eight years.That is the next step that needs to be made to get a national title much more than saying winning the conference to the national title.

[This message has been edited by Slickrick (edited 5/21/2014 8:32p).]

Shane won his first round match....have not heard about Harry....

Harry lost his first round match....