Final Conference Matches

PROVO -- After tacking on two more wins over the weekend in a thrilling double header, the No. 73-ranked BYU men's tennis team continues conference play as it faces Utah, Air Force and No. 66 New Mexico in Salt Lake City April 15-17 respectively. All three matches will be hosted by the University of Utah and begin at 2:00 p.m. at the Canyon Racquet Club.

"We are really excited about the wins last week," head coach Brad Pearce said. "We feel ready for these three conference matches. The team has worked hard to get to this point."

Thursday's match-up will feature the 9-9 Utes of the University of Utah. The Utes are coming off a 6-0 loss to UNLV two weeks ago. Leading the Utes this year is Roeland Brateanu from Amsterdam, Netherlands, a college transfer from the University of Arizona. Against UNLV, Brateanu went three sets against No.77 Henner Nehles.

Air Force lost its third straight conference match on Sunday falling to No. 70 UNLV 4-2. the Falcons are 12-11 overall with wins over such teams as Northern Colorado, Northern Arizona and Montana.

On Saturday, the Cougars will face New Mexico. The BYU men's team is 2-1 in the last three seasons against the Lobos. Along with the Cougars, New Mexico clinched the conference championship in 2003.

"These are important matches for us," Pearce said. "All of our conference matches are tough this season. We can't look past anybody."