Baylor Men's Tennis Riding High into ITA National Indoors After Statement Win Over Texas A&M
WACO, Texas - Hosting the ITA National Team Indoor Championships comes with its perks - like an automatic bid - but Baylor men’s tennis made it clear on Monday night they’re not just here because they’re co-hosting. They’re here because they belong.
The 19th-ranked Bears, now 5-1 on the season, delivered a commanding 4-1 win over No. 8 Texas A&M, a team that earned its spot in the 16-team field the hard way. For Baylor, that win wasn’t just a bounce-back from a tough loss to TCU - it was a statement.
“I think it’s always important to feel like you belong in the event,” head coach Michael Woodson said. “Especially when you’re a host and get that automatic entry. For us to beat a team that qualified in and is rightfully so a top-10 program in A&M really gave us a ton of confidence.”
That confidence will be put to the test quickly. Baylor, seeded fifth in the tournament, will face a red-hot UCF squad on Friday at 3:30 p.m. at the Hawkins Indoor Tennis Center in Waco. UCF, ranked No. 9 and seeded fourth, comes in undefeated at 8-0 with marquee wins over USC, Oklahoma, Florida, and Miami.
“They’ve beaten some really good teams,” Woodson said. “They’ve got a deep, loaded roster.
Their top-10 ranking is very well-deserved. We know a lot of their guys, which makes it fun.
They’re gritty, they’re competitive - and I’d like to think we are, too.”
Singles Strength Carries the Bears
What stood out most in Monday’s win over the Aggies was Baylor’s resilience in singles play. Despite dropping the doubles point - for the second straight match and third time this season - the Bears came out firing in singles, winning all six first sets and closing out the match with victories at the No. 2, 3, 4, and 5 spots.
Zsombor Velcz, Connor Van Schalwyk, Alexandru Chirita, and Luc Koenig each delivered in straight or three-set fashion, showcasing the depth and fight that’s quickly becoming a hallmark of this Baylor squad.
Koenig, who clinched his match 6-3, 1-6, 6-2 over A&M’s Tokac Togan, credited the home crowd for giving the Bears a crucial edge.
“The crowd and the home support was spectacular,” Koenig said. “You could see some of their guys getting frustrated when we were getting pumped up and the crowd was getting pumped up. That definitely gave us some sort of edge and helped us to play better when everyone was so into it.”
Doubles Still a Work in Progress
While the singles play has been a strength, doubles remains an area the Bears are still trying to fine-tune. Head coach Michael Woodson didn’t mince words when talking about the need for more energy, composure, and aggressiveness in those opening matches.
“We haven’t played with the right energy level, composure, aggressiveness - that we actually have in us,” Woodson said. “We need to do a better job there.”
Expect some lineup experimentation this weekend. While official lineups must be submitted in advance, Woodson hinted at potential changes within the rules to shake things up and find the right combinations.
Koenig, who has partnered with Devin Badenhorst at No. 1 doubles, acknowledged the struggles but believes adjustments are coming.
“It’s been a bit of a tough one for me and Dev,” Koenig said. “Quite a surprise for us, obviously, after so many years of success - especially this summer, how well we did - to come out and fail.
But I think Coach is making some changes and making some plans. We’re constantly watching video to see what play calls we can do better and how we can be better on the court in doubles.”
Looking Ahead at the ITA National Indoors
The ITA National Team Indoor Championships are stacked with elite programs, and Baylor’s side of the bracket is no exception. If the Bears get past UCF on Friday, they’ll face the winner of top-ranked Virginia and No. 16 Clemson in Saturday’s quarterfinals.
Here’s how the first round shapes up:
In Waco:
- No.
5 TCU vs. No.
17 LSU - 9 a.m.
- No.
7 Texas vs. No.
8 Texas A&M - 12 p.m.
- No.
19 Baylor vs. No.
9 UCF - 3:30 p.m.
- No.
3 Wake Forest vs. UC Santa Barbara - 6:30 p.m.
In Dallas:
- No.
4 Stanford vs. No.
22 Arizona State - 9 a.m.
- No.
2 Ohio State vs. SMU - 12 p.m.
- No. 1 Virginia vs.
No. 16 Clemson - 3:30 p.m.
- No. 6 Mississippi State vs.
No. 23 Florida - 6:30 p.m.
Waco will host the back draw matches on Sunday, while the semifinals and finals of the championship bracket move to SMU’s Altec Tennis Complex.
Home Court Advantage Matters
Playing at home isn’t just about convenience - it’s a competitive edge. The familiarity with the surface, the energy of the home crowd, and the comfort of routine all add up. Just ask Velcz.
“It’s definitely an advantage to play at home in front of the home crowd,” he said. “You know the courts and you’re used to it. It gives us extra confidence to play at home.”
With momentum on their side and a chance to make a deep run in one of college tennis’ premier events, Baylor’s mindset is clear: they’re not just hosting - they’re here to compete.
Live scoring for all matches is available via the ITA National Indoor site, and Baylor TV will stream all matches played in Waco.