Pioneers Stare Down Cougars in Provo

PROVO -- The BYU men's tennis team (5-4) will host the No. 60 Denver Pioneers (5-1) Friday at 5 p.m. at the BYU Indoor Tennis Courts in front of a Cougar athlete-filled crowd. This match is scheduled as the team's "Y Match" to which athletes from all the Cougar teams are encouraged to attend.

BYU enters the match after a 16-day rest since its last match. The team won both matches of a doubleheader against Portland and Oregon in Oregon on February 7. Jonathan Sanchez won Mountain West Conference Player-of-the-Week honors after winning five of six matches between his singles and doubles competition that weekend.

"The rest has been good for us," BYU head coach Brad Pearce said. "We ended on a great note in the Northwest and we've had some physical practices since. Denver is going to be a good, physical team and we're going to need great effort from our entire lineup. I anticipate that it is going to be a great match."

Perhaps the biggest concern the Cougars have going into the match is the health of team-captain Dominik Kaufhold. He aggravated a past injury to his right heel Tuesday and is questionable for Friday's match. He has played No. 1 singles the last two matches and was slated to face off against No. 19 Adam Holstrom at the top position.

"I think the team feels good," sophomore Cale Planck said. "We're just hoping Dom feels good. We have had a good week of practice and now we're just hoping to do well in front our fans."

BYU "Y" Lot parking is available to the public after 4 p.m. Admission to the match is free and the match begins at 5 p.m. Prizes will be awarded to crowd members in a free raffle and free pizza and donuts will also be provided. Members of the BYU football team are also slated to perform the Haka, a traditional Maori war dance, between the singles and doubles competition.