April 5, 2002

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - The Santa Clara University men's tennis team--winners of 10 straight--will look to extend its victory streak when it visits Sacramento State on Saturday afternoon. The Broncos will also return home for a Sunday showdown against West Coast Conference rival Loyola Marymount. First serve for both matches is 1 p.m. SCU's match against the Hornets will be at the Rio del Oro Racquet Club while the contest against LMU will take place at the SCU Tennis Center.

The Broncos, ranked 57th nationally by the ITA, are currently 13-4 overall and 6-1 in league play, while also boasting an undefeated mark at home this season. Every member of the team is performing well, including freshman Francisco Zepponi, who has a school record 25 wins this season in singles play. Fellow newcomer Chris Lam, who is ranked 116th nationally and plays at the top of the line up, just earned his 20th victory of the season yesterday at Saint Mary's. There's also sophomore Erich Chen, who will aim for his 20th straight win on Saturday. If he reaches the milestone victory, this year's squad will become the first in program history to have three players earn 20 singles victories.

Sacramento State is 5-8 on the season and will host LMU this afternoon before the Broncos visit the capital city on Saturday. The Hornets are led by Sherif Zaher, who won a national championship as a freshman at Georgia. Although Santa Clara defeated Sac State 5-2 at home last season, the Broncos lost on the Hornet courts during their last trip there two seasons ago.

The Lions are currently riding a six-match win streak and are 12-3 overall, 2-1 in league play. LMU is one of the rising programs in the WCC, as well as the national ranks, with its leading doubles tandem on the verge of a national ranking.