Event: Big West Conference Tournament
Teams: UC Davis vs. UC Santa Barbara; TBA
Record: Aggies 9-10, Gauchos 12-10
Where: Indian Wells, Calif.
When: Friday at 9 a.m.; Saturday and Sunday TBA
Who to watch: Ellie Edles hopes to bounce back after her emotions ran high against UC Irvine.
It was a tough day for Edles, as she was playing a formidable opponent coached by her father.
The Costa Mesa, Calif. native ended up losing her match 6-3, 6-1.
Did you know? UC Davis already played UC Santa Barbara one other time this year. The Gauchos took the match 5-2 in the first conference clash of the season for the Aggies.
Preview: This is what they have prepared for all year.
While the Aggies have occasionally fallen short of season goals, they have rounded in time for their first Big West Tournament matchup on Friday. This is because UC Davis believes that they finished the regular season at home with a bang against UC Irvine.
“It was our best match of the year,” said coach Bill Maze.
Even though they lost to a conference foe, the Aggies still accomplished one of their yearlong aspirations – to be ready for the Big West tourney.
The Aggies (9-10) lost 4-3 to the Gauchos in a tightly contested grudge match. The loss prevented UC Davis from having the coveted above .500 record it had set out to achieve at the start of season.
The Aggies will need to continue solidifying their doubles play performances if they hope to earn some wins in the upcoming tournament.
The team finished the year with a 2-6 conference record so Maze will look to find a better approach when they face the Gauchos, who have already defeated the Aggies once this season.
Maze said the two-week rest will allow for adjustments, but more importantly, give the team a chance to restore a healthy roster once at for all.
Though their biggest event opens this weekend, Maze’s confidence in his team remains unaffected.
“We had strong efforts this season against some tough teams,” Maze said.
– Marcos Rodriguez
