Rankings, records and expectations don't matter.
Though the Iowa State men's basketball team learned that the hard way in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, the Virginia men's tennis squad knows going into today's match against William & Mary that anything can happen.
"You just never know," Virginia coach Dick Stockton said. "I expect a very tough match that could go right down to the wire. It's always very competitive. Everyone is fighting. We're just going to have to be competitive with everyone we play."
The Cavaliers (6-3) have a dominating 49-8-1 all-time record against the Tribe (9-8). Under Stockton, who is in his third year at Virginia, the Cavaliers have won all of their matches against their in-state rival. The last time William & Mary beat Virginia was in 1948, though the Tribe was ahead of the Cavaliers, 3-2, in 1958 when the matched was canceled and never replayed.
The Cavaliers also are playing on their home courts at the Sheridan Snyder Tennis Center, where they consistently have dominated over their opponents. Virginia went an impressive 10-1 at home last season and is 2-0 so far this year.
"It's nice to be at home," said senior Brian Hunter, who plays No. 5 singles and No. 3 doubles. "We usually get pretty good support, and it's always a big help. We have a really strong record at home."
Even though everything seems to be pointing the Cavaliers' way, Virginia is not taking today's showdown lightly.
"We always have good matches with William & Mary," Hunter said. "They consider us a pretty big rivalry and always come in playing their best. In a match like this, rankings don't matter or mean much at all."
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"They're a pretty solid team this year," Stockton added. "I don't know if we're really any better than they are."
What the Cavaliers do know is the significance of today's contest which precedes a tough three-match stretch this weekend that includes two crucial ACC matchups with Clemson and Georgia Tech. Virginia had a tough 5-2 loss to North Carolina on March 25 and does not want to enter the weekend with two straight losses.
On the other hand, William & Mary is riding a three-match winning streak and clearly has momentum. The Tribe's two past wins over Richmond on March 24 and Clemson on March 17 were both shutouts.
The match is "very important, especially with all the matches we have coming up," Hunter said. "To get a win would be a big plus for our confidence level and opportunity to gain a little momentum going into the big ACC matches."
Virginia should have few problems at the top of its lineup, where the Cavaliers are very strong. Senior and top singles player Brian Vahaly is the nation's 12th-best player, and the doubles team of Vahaly and senior Huntley Montgomery is ranked No. 3 in the country. But a win for Virginia will weigh heavily on the play at the No. 3 through No. 6 spots.
For the Tribe, seniors Patrick Brown and Trevor Spracklin lead the way. The two also combine for a doubles team that is ranked in the nation's top 50.
The Cavaliers are expected to win. But rankings aside, it all boils down to playing to the best of their capabilities.
"I think the guys know how important the match is," Stockton said. "They'll be ready to go"
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