The Baylor Bears tennis team represents Baylor University in NCAA Division I college tennis. The team belongs to the Big 12 Conference and plays home matches at the Mark Hurd Tennis Facility. The Bears are currently led by head coach Matt Knoll, and the Lady Bears are led by head coach Joey Scrivano. The 2010 season will mark Coach Knoll's 14th year at the helm of the program. Knoll's assistant coach is Christopher Brandi, a former player for the University of Florida. Scrivano's assistant coach is Alison Ojedo, a former player for the University of Tennessee.
Contents |
Men's tennis first debuted at Baylor University in 1970, but not did become a popular sport on campus until the arrival of Matt Knoll in 1997. After a 13-12 campaign in his inaugural year, Coach Knoll led the team to its first NCAA Tournament appearance in 1998. The team has made 12 straight NCAA Tournament appearances, advancing to the Round of 16 or farther in nine of those twelve years.
In 2000, the team won its first conference championship. The team won 9 straight conference championships dating from 2000 to 2009 and has won the conference tournament 8 times in the past 9 years. The Bears' streak of conference championships came to an end during the 2010 season due to losses to Big 12 rivals Texas A&M and The University of Texas at Austin.
| Years | |
|---|---|
| NCAA National Champions | 2004 |
| NCAA Tournament Appearances | 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 |
| Big 12 Conference Champions | 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011 |
| Big 12 Tournament Champions | 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009 |
Baylor tennis plays their home matches at the Mark Hurd Tennis Facility. Opened in 2000, the facility contains 12 outdoor courts, and a clubhouse with offices. The listed capacity of the center is 3,000, including amphitheater seating. There is chair-back seating along the baselines for 1,200. Indoor facilities are in the initial planning stages. By the 2012 season, there will be an LED scoreboard in the middle of the front six courts, allowing an easier time for fans to keep track of several matches at once.
Baylor Tennis Center has hosted numerous postseason events since its construction. It has hosted first and second round action of the NCAA tournament eight times (2000, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010) and has hosted the Big 12 Tournament twice (2001 & 2006) and will host a third time in 2011.
| Season | Overall Record |
Conference Record |
Conference Standing |
Postseason | Final Nat'l Rank |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 13-12 | 3-6 | 8th | None | Matt Knoll First Year | |
| 1998 | 15-9 | 7-2 | T-2nd | NCAA First Round | #26 | |
| 1999 | 25-4 | 7-1 | 2nd | NCAA Elite Eight | #10 | |
| 2000 | 23-6 | 8-0 | 1st | NCAA Round of 16 | #7 | |
| 2001 | 12-12 | 6-2 | 2nd | NCAA First Round | #30 | |
| 2002 | 27-2 | 7-0 | 1st | NCAA Round of 16 | #7 | Big 12 Tournament Champions |
| 2003 | 28-2 | 7-0 | 1st | NCAA Elite Eight | #4 | Big 12 Tournament Champions |
| 2004 | 32-2 | 7-0 | 1st | NCAA National Champions | #1 | Big 12 Tournament Champions |
| 2005 | 33-1 | 7-0 | 1st | NCAA National Runner-Up | #2 | Big 12 Tournament Champions |
| 2006 | 25-7 | 6-1 | 1st | NCAA Final Four | #4 | |
| 2007 | 28-4 | 6-0 | 1st | NCAA Final Four | #4 | Big 12 Tournament Champions |
| 2008 | 25-9 | 5-1 | 1st | NCAA Elite Eight | #8 | Big 12 Tournament Champions |
| 2009 | 26-5 | 6-0 | 1st | NCAA Elite Eight | #7 | Big 12 Tournament Champions |
| 2010 | 24-7 | 4-2 | 3rd | NCAA Elite Eight | #7 | Big 12 Tournament 3rd Place |
| 2011 | 19-3 | 6-0 | 1st | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| TOTALS | 355-85 | 92-15 |
Benjamin Becker
Benedickt Dorsch
Lars Poerschke