Tennis teams host Rams, Terrapins

For the Virginia men's tennis team, it's a test of faith. For the women, it's a game of execution. But for both, today's matches taking place on the Sheridan Snyder Tennis Center courts are ultimately the same: crucial, intense and highly anticipated rivalries.

The men (8-4, 2-3 ACC) will battle in-state foe Virginia Commonwealth (13-8) at 1 p.m. in one of their toughest matchups of the year. On paper, things look discouraging for the Cavaliers, who will face their highest-ranked opponent of the season so far. The No. 26 Rams are ranked 19 spots higher than Virginia, and have won all but one of their meetings with the Cavaliers since 1990. Although Virginia defeated VCU in the first round of the NCAA Regionals in 1998, the Rams lead the all-time series, 11-9.

But like all in-state contests, history never can predict the outcome, and it definitely won't stop the Cavaliers from believing they can win.

It's going to be a tough match, Virginia men's coach Dick Stockton said. They are a very, very good and strong team. We could win, 4-3, or we could lose, 6-1. That's how good they are. It's a match we can win, but certainly we've got our work cut out for us.

After the men take the courts, the women (12-5, 1-1) will meet ACC contender Maryland (5-7. 1-2) at 2:30 p.m. Though the Terrapins are unranked, Virginia cannot take them lightly. In close, hard-fought matches, Virginia has lost in three of their last four meetings with the Terrapins. The Cavaliers undoubtedly will need to be as ready as they can be to end the trend and pull out a victory.