When the University of Memphis men’s tennis team faces No. 5 Ole Miss this afternoon at 2:30 on the Varsity Tennis Courts, the Tigers will be playing with the confidence of a team on a roll.
After vaulting eight spots Wednesday to No. 51 in the Omni Hotels Collegiate Tennis Rankings released by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association, Memphis finds itself with its highest ranking in third-year head coach Phil Chamberlain’s tenure.
Memphis (10-4) has won its last six matches, including four over ranked teams, over the past two weeks.
This week’s ITA rankings mark the year’s first computerized version of the poll, which switches each year in mid-March from a vote by a coaches’ panel to a computerized strength rating.
Although it is ideal to have a smooth transition from a coaches’ poll to computer rankings, the two work in very different ways. Therefore, there can be significant jumps or dropoffs for teams when the switch is made.
Chamberlain said he thinks the system could use some adjusting.
“The system is a little unusual considering teams like UAB were able to jump 30 spots, and we know we are much better than them,” Chamberlain said. “When they played Clemson and Rice, those teams were not playing at full strength and UAB won one match and got a higher ranking than other teams like us that had to play hard every game.”
The Tigers do not have any individual players or doubles teams ranked nationally this week, which, according to Chamberlain, shows Memphis’ success this year has truly been a team effort.
“We’ve played good team tennis,” said Chamberlain. “We’ve had different players step up when we have needed them to do so. One match, we might loose at 1 or 2, but win at 5 and 6. (The) next match, we may do the opposite. The kids have played hard.”
Of Memphis’ 14 matches, seven have come against ranked opponents. However, the squad faces its toughest test to date today when it hosts No. 5 Ole Miss (10-3) on the lower courts of the Varsity Tennis Courts just outside the Student Recreation and Fitness Center.
“We’ve played the Rebels every season and they have every reason to feel confident against us,” Chamberlain said. “We feel we can compete in every match. We have won six straight and we are going in on a confidence high.
“In past years, we just wanted to give a good showing, represent well and not be embarrassed against a top-ranked team. But now we are ready for the challenge.”
Ole Miss marks the third Top 30 team the Tigers have faced this season. Memphis lost, 6-1, early in the season to 13th-ranked Tennessee and suffered a narrow 4-3 loss to 29th-ranked Middle Tennessee State March 2.
The Tigers’ other two losses have come against ranked teams as well, falling, 5-2, to 37th-ranked Vanderbilt Jan. 26 and 4-3 to 53rd-ranked East Tennessee State Feb. 2.
