MIAMI SHORES, Fla. -- Barry University's men's tennis team, which has ascended to the pinnacle of NCAA Division II tennis once again, hosts Siena 3 p.m. Tuesday at Buccaneer Tennis Center. The Buccaneers (14-0) will conclude the week at Sunshine State Conference rival Lynn 11 a.m. Saturday in Boca Raton.
The Bucs are coming off a 5-4 win over No. 1 Armstrong Atlantic Friday and Saturday. Barry is expected to be ranked No. 1 in the polls released later this week or the April poll at the close of the regular season.
Last season, Barry beat Lynn in the Sunshine State Conference championship in Lakeland, but the Fighting Knights ended the Bucs' season in the NCAA South Region championship in Boca Raton. While Barry may have to play Lynn once or twice more this season, the Buccaneers high standards on the court has always been about perfection. In other words, every match counts.
Siena, an NCAA Division I school in New York, will be playing the Bucs for the first time in the two team's history. The Saints are 2-4 this season, having lost their last four matches.
Lynn, which was ranked No. 3 in the country, is 14-3 this year. The Knights lost to Armstrong Atlantic Sunday, 5-0. Lynn also lost to No. 2 West Florida and No. 10 Oklahoma Christian, both by 5-4 scores. Barry beat the No. 2 Argonauts, 5-4, and OCU, 6-3.
Wednesday's home match against Siena will end a seven-match homestand. Barry won't return home again until finishing the regular season at Buccaneer Tennis Center Apr. 11-12 against St. Thomas and Palm Beach Atlantic. The SSC Championships will be held Apr. 18-20 in Boca Raton.