Razorbacks Open Spring with Regional Playoff; Take on Wichita St. at 8 a.m.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Arkansas begins the 2006 season Saturday, when the Razorbacks travel to Tulsa, Okla. for the ITA Central Region Indoor Team Play-Off.

The Razorbacks, ranked 58th in the first FILA/ITA rankings released January 10, are the region’s 4th-seed. Host Tulsa is the region’s top-seed, followed by Oklahoma, Oklahoma St., Arkansas, Drake, Nebraska, Wichita St., and Illinois St. UA will take on Wichita St. at 8 a.m. and if they advance will face top-seed Tulsa at 5 p.m.

“This is a big weekend,” Razorback Coach Robert Cox said, “We’re jumping right into it. We’ll get a chance to see where were we are against some great teams in our region.”

At stake this weekend is a berth in the ITA National Indoors, which would be the first time the Hogs have been there since 2003.

The Hogs feature five players—Adrians Zguns (6), Rohan Gajjar (11), Matt Roberts (12), Blake Strode (16) and Michael Jung (28)—ranked in the regional top 30. Strode (19), Roberts (24) and Gajjar (100) are also all nationally ranked. Strode, a true freshman, holds the highest national ranking of any player in the region.

Cox’s lineup will consist of seniors Zguns, Roberts and Gajjar in the 1, 2 and 3 singles’ spots, respectively. Strode will fill the No. 4 slot, with redshirt freshman transfer Colin Mascall at No. 5 and Jung, a sophomore, playing No. 6.

In doubles, the Hogs will go with Gajjar and Roberts in the top spot, Strode and Zguns in the No. 2 position with Mascall and Jung playing No. 3.

Play begins Saturday at 8 a.m., with the tournament final slated for Sunday at 4 p.m. The matches will be held at the Michael D. Case Tennis Center on the University of Tulsa campus.