By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer
TAMPA - The Bulls have their eyes on the prize, but they know a smaller order of business has to be handled first.
The No. 72 USF men's tennis team finishes up its regular season at home 2 p.m. Friday against No. 56 Middle Tennessee State before the Bulls host the Big East Championships April 19-22 at the USF Varsity Courts.
"Getting that momentum of finishing your matches as you're climbing is the way to get strong for the Big East," USF head coach Don Barr said. "We can't have a hiccup here. We need to be strong all the way through."
MTSU (15-6) serves as a great tune-up for the Big East with the Blue Raiders riding a seven-match winning streak into Tampa behind the strong game of Sun Belt Player of the Week Ben Davis, who went 7-0 last week.
"They're ranked and have some very good wins, so we'll definitely have to bring our 'A' game to beat them," Barr said.
USF also has been impressive lately and is looking for its fourth straight victory. The Bulls won their third straight match at home by handing Marquette a 6-1 loss on April 1 the last time out. Senior Wael Kilani has done well leading the way by winning all three of his singles matches during USF's streak along with taking home three doubles victories with teammate Federico Sabogal.
"He's gotten a lot more aggressive, he's gotten more c,onditioning and I think he's feeling that senior last few matches," Barr said. "He wants to make sure he finishes out the year strong. I think he wants to give it everything he's got."
Fans can watch Kilani and the rest of the Bulls take on MTSU for free at the USF Varsity Courts.
