The men’s tennis team will travel to Las Vegas on Friday to open conference play against UNLV at the Fertitta Tennis Complex. 

Last match, TCU (5-11) dropped a 4-3 decision to Rice on Sunday. 

Senior Daniel Sanchez and freshmen Facundo Lugones and Will Stein grabbed victories in singles play for the Frogs. Lugones’ victory snapped a four-match losing skid. 

Since joining the program in January, Lugones has played from No. 6 to the No. 2 spot, head coach David Roditi said. Overall, the freshman class has done an outstanding job this season, he said. 

UNLV (7-10) lost to Rice 5-2 in its last match. The Rebels earned a 4-3 victory over Air Force to start conference play. 

The conference race should be wide open this season, Roditi said. Four or five teams out of six could win the Mountain West. 

The Frogs have lost their last five matches in a row. Conference play should show the Frogs whether they had learned from all the close losses this year, he said. In all the losing matches, TCU has not had all eight athletes play well at the same time. 

“When three or four guys play well, other three or four guys don’t, and that’s costing us matches,” Roditi said. “We have to find a way to all play well on the same day.”

Sophomore Max Stevens said the matches should turn in the team’s favor soon. 

The Frogs would keep working through the losses and play their game, Stevens said. With a victory at UNLV, they could grab momentum to carry the team for the rest of the season.

The Frogs focused on preparing for every match and situation, Roditi said.

“We need every guy to do their part,” Roditi said. “We need every position, every doubles team to do their part. I believe that if we all play to what everybody has been playing at times during the season, then we will be fine.” 

TCU vs. UNLV

When: 2 p.m. Friday

Where: Las Vegas, Nev.