With only seven contests determining the Ivy League champion, every match is crucial. But the Penn men's tennis team will have more than just capturing the league crown on its agenda this weekend - they'll be seeking revenge.
Last spring, the Quakers were left to wonder what could have been after they lost in a one-match playoff against Brown to determine the league's automatic NCAA tournament bid. Despite beating the Bears during the regular season, the Quakers were unable to close the deal and were subsequently left out of the field.
No. 74 Penn (7-11, 1-0 Ivy) will try to avenge its lost opportunity when the team travels to Providence tomorrow to face the No. 69 Bears (13-6, 0-0), after facing unranked Yale in New Haven today.
Junior Jason Pinsky feels the team has added incentive as a result of last year's loss.
"It's a big rivalry and there's some bad blood between us," Pinsky said. "Hopefully we can learn from our experience last year and play a good match."
Brown comes into its first Ivy League weekend after losing to No. 11 Wake Forest while Penn is coming off its road win over No. 75 Princeton.
"We did a good job at Princeton," coach Mark Riley said. "Hopefully we can use that confidence and keep growing."
Despite the loss to the Demon Deacons, Brown was able to capture the doubles point, with the No. 1 team of Dan Hanegby and Saurabh Kohli taking down the No. 25-ranked team in the nation.
Doubles has been an area of strength for Brown all year as it has won 16 of 18 double points, including nine sweeps.
"You can't just look at their record, you also have to look at who they've played," Riley said. "They've played some quality matches but they haven't played the same schedule that we have, so it's hard for me to compare the doubles."
Before the Red and Blue can worry about Brown, however, they must face an unranked Yale team. The Elis (6-7, 0-0) come into their Ivy League opener having won two matches in a row, but are experiencing what could be considered a down year for the program.
Despite the intense rivalry set to take place tomorrow, the Quakers insist they are not overlooking today's foe.
"Before you do anything you have to beat Yale," Riley said. "We'll start thinking about Brown when we're leaving New Haven."
Pinsky echoed his coach's sentiment, adding that the team realizes every match is equally important when it comes to capturing the Ivy title.
"All the guys are focused and they know that every match you have to win," he said. "We know if we slip up once in the league that could be the end of our championship aspirations."
With all four ranked Ivy League teams in action (No. 72 Columbia faces Dartmouth and Harvard while Princeton also faces Brown and Yale), this weekend could go a long way in determining the frontrunners for that elusive automatic bid.
Penn may have more at stake than most.
