BYU Off to Boise for Indoor Qualifier

PROVO -- The BYU men's tennis team faces a tough test this weekend when it plays in Boise, Idaho at the Indoor Region VII Team Championships. The Cougars will face Boise State Friday afternoon, with San Diego State and New Mexico rounding out the four teams at the tournament. The winner of the tournament will advance to the USTA/ITA Team Indoor Championship.

In Friday's matchup with Boise State, the Cougars will need to play well to defeat the Broncos. Boise State is led by the big three of Guillaume Bouvier, Marcus Berntson and Mark Roberts. The Cougars, led by Gert Vilms and Carlos Lozano, will need to be at the top of their game to handle Boise State.

"They all have really big serves, so we'll have to return well in order to win," head coach Jim Osborne said. "It's going to come down to who's serving well."

Should the Cougars advance, one of the two Mountain West Conference foes will be waiting. San Diego State is led by the doubles team of Maiberger and Redondo, ranked No. 2 in the nation at the end of the fall season.

"We'll have to play late-season tennis to win," Osborne said. "All four teams at the tournament will move up significantly in the national rankings by the end of the season."

The Cougars won't get a break after this weekend's action. BYU will hit the road, as it will for much of the season, next week to face Oregon and Washington.