Ohio State hosting USC in Super Regional
The Ohio State men's tennis team will be on both familiar yet oddly unfamiliar ground Saturday when it plays Southern California in an NCAA Super Regional.
The fourth-seeded Buckeyes have reached this Round of 16 every year since 2003, excluding the Covid-canceled 2020 tournament.
But when Ohio State steps on the outdoor courts at the Ty Tucker Tennis Center against the 13th-seeded Trojans, it will be doing so for only the second time all year.
Last week's second-round match against Columbia was the only time this spring that the weather hasn't forced the Buckeyes (26-3) to play on their indoor courts. Since playing at Texas and Texas A&M in mid-march, the Buckeyes' only other outdoors match came in the Big Ten tournament against Michigan State in Madison, Wisconsin.
“Yeah, it's really strange,” said junior Cannon Kingsley. “We've had some unlucky weather.”
In that sense, USC could have an advantage. The Trojans are used to playing outside.
“It's a totally different game,” Kingsley said. “Indoors, it's such a controlled environment, and it's louder as well
with the crowd. Outside, it's a little bit harder to make that kind of environment where you can't hear yourself think.”
Coach Ty Tucker said there's no point in worrying about the infrequency of outdoor matches.
“What are you going to do, sit around and complain about it?” Tucker said. “All you can do is try to beat the guy that's 90 feet away from you.”
College tennis crowds are hardly genteel,
and Kingsley and Tucker hope a packed crowd will give the Buckeyes a lift, even if playing outdoors might keep it from being deafening.
The winner of Saturday's match advances to the final site of the NCAA championships starting Thursday in Champaign, Illinois. A Buckeye win would set up a quarterfinal matchup against Michigan if the No. 5 Wolverines defeat Texas.
Ohio State has played Michigan three times this season, dropping a non-conference match in Ann Arbor, winning in Columbus and then losing in the Big Ten tournament finals.
USC has won 21 national titles and has advanced to this round the past 15 tournaments. The Pac-12 champion Trojans (20-5) have won 12 straight matches.
Kingley's match against Stefan Dostanic at No. 1 singles will be a marquee matchup.
Dostanic is undefeated in 17 dual matches and is ranked seventh nationally. Kingsley is No. 9 and 17-4 in dual matches.
Ohio State has won everything under Tucker except an NCAA championship. That is a realistic goal this year. The Buckeyes were ranked No. 1 earlier this season. They have a deep lineup bolstered by transfers Matej Vocel and Jake Van Emburgh.
“We have a good mix of experienced guys and young guys with a lot of potential, a lot of fire,” Kingsley said. “You never know what's going to happen in the tournament. The teams are good.
“But I feel like we have the ability to beat every team in the country, 100%, no doubt about it.”
Bill Rabinowitz covers Ohio State football for The Columbus Dispatch. Contact him at brabinowitz@dispatch.com or on Twitter @brdispatch.