No. 11 Baylor MT Opens Season in Doubleheader

[Pirtle, Colin]

BAYLOR ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS – January 14, 2023

No. 11 Baylor MT Opens Season in Doubleheader
Bears face Lamar, Incarnate Word on Sunday
For more information contact: Colin Pirtle; 940-564-0351, colin_pirtle1 at baylor.edu<mailto:colin_pirtle1 at baylor.edu>


WACO, Texas – No. 11 Baylor men’s tennis will open the 2023 spring season on Sunday with a doubleheader at the Hawkins Indoor Tennis Center against Lamar and Incarnate Word at 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.



“I think the older guys know what’s coming,” said head coach Michael Woodson. “They seem very ready, more ready than I’m used to, more comfortable in the environment than I’m used to from them. And then, the naivete of a large portion of this group is really fun, too. They’re so worried about the development and they’re getting in longer practice sessions and more detailed work closer to the matches than I would say I’ve been accustomed to the past couple of years. But that combination of a real comfortability from the older guys and the young group that has absolutely no idea what’s coming, is making it a lot of fun. And it’s keeping us present in the moment, for sure.”



The Bears open the season with the home doubleheader before a weekend trip to Virginia to face William & Mary on Jan. 20 and the defending national champion Virginia on Jan. 22.



2023 marks year No. 3 for Woodson, who has tallied a 63-9 record with a national finals appearance in 2021 and quarterfinals appearance in 2022.



Baylor has not allowed an opponent to score a point in its season opener since the 2016 season, when UC Irvine scored one singles point before falling to the Bears, 4-1.



Last season, Lamar posted a 17-8 record and closed the season with a 4-1 loss to Abilene Christian in the WAC championships match.



Incarnate Word went 12-8 in the 2022 campaign and closed its season with a 4-0 loss to New Orleans in first round of the Southland tournament.



Baylor holds a combined record of 18-4 over both Cardinal programs, with the only losses coming to Lamar in the 1980s. The Bears swept both programs in their last meetings, with Lamar in 2021 and Incarnate Word in 2022.



Finn Bass and Juan Pablo Grassi Mazzuchi are ranked at No. 3 in the doubles rankings released at the end of the fall season, with the pair splitting for Bass’ No. 23 and Grassi Mazzuchi’s No. 115 rankings in singles. Tadeas Paroulek and Zsombor Velcz also boast a No. 59 ranking in doubles.



“I’ve said it multiple times, I’ll say it again probably throughout the season, this is the closest team I’ve ever had,” said Woodson. “And it makes being out there fun. I think everybody’s having fun. They’re enjoying the challenges, they’re enjoying the competition in practice, they’re enjoying the meetings and even the travel.”



To stay up to date throughout the season on all things Baylor men’s tennis, follow the team on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: @BaylorMTennis.



- BaylorBears.com -

_________________________________________
Colin Pirtle | Associate Director of Athletics Communications (T&F, XC, MTEN)
Department of Athletics | Baylor University
C: 940-564-0351

[signature_2230589939]<http://baylorbears.com/>

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