With three injuries slowing down the men’s tennis team, the Bulls dropped three matches over the weekend at the Rice Invitational. Dirk Britzen missed two games with a back injury, Juan Barragan was forced to sit out with a shoulder injury and Federico Barton played despite pulling his groin at the start of the invitational. With tough losses to Texas Tech, Rice and Purdue, the Bulls’ record fell to 3-9 on the season.

“We put together a very tough schedule in order to get the recruits that we wanted,” coach Don Barr said. “We’ve had a tough schedule throughout the year, and we’ve got our work cut out for us. The six guys on our team are competing, and I’m proud out what we’ve been able to do.”

On Friday, the Bulls faced the No. 37-ranked Texas Tech Red Raiders and fell 5-2. Saturday, Rice defeated USF 6-1, and Sunday, the Bulls fell to Purdue 7-0. Sophomore Mark Gattiker was the only Bull to record two victories over the weekend.

“It’s tough going on the road with a limited roster because nobody can be injured,” Gattiker said. “If someone is out, then we have to forfeit that point, and we can’t afford to give anything away.”

Despite the losses, Barr was happy with the heart that his players showed, especially Barragan trying to play through his injuries.

“Over the weekend it was pretty cold, and I pulled something in my shoulder,” Barragan said. “I tried to play through it, but by the end of the weekend I couldn’t play any more.”

BY THE NUMBERS

9 – The difference in wins between the men and women’s tennis team’s 3-9 and 12-3 records, respectively.

3 – The number of top-100 singles players on the women’s team. The men’s team has only one.

4 – The number of shutout wins for the women’s team. The men have been shutout twice.