Editor’s note: With several sports going on, Wildcat Wrap serves as a recap that focuses on the Arizona programs that we do not have the time to cover on a regular basis but are certainly worthy of recognition.
Arizona men’s tennis will play host to one of the more anticipated NCAA matches of the non-conference season Friday when it hosts San Diego.
The No. 14 Wildcats and No. 7 Toreros combine for three of the top men’s singles players in the nation. San Diego’s Oliver Tarvet is ranked No. 2 nationally, while Arizona’s Colton Smith is No. 3 and Jay Friend is No. 5.
San Diego’s Tarvet is also part of the top ranked doubles pair in the country.
Arizona (8-1) has already lost once at home this season to UCF. Home losses are a rarity under coach Clancy Shields; since 2018 the Wildcats are 69-5 at LaNelle Robson Tennis Center.
A win would give Arizona a second consecutive victory over a top 25 team after beating No. 25 Pepperdine on Feb. 9.
The match begins at 2 p.m. MST.
Women’s tennis
Women’s tennis is also at home this weekend, where it will face Colorado State and Buffalo Saturday as part of a doubleheader.
Arizona (6-4) split a homestand last week, beating No. 24 UC Santa Barbara 4-3 before falling to No. 23 Texas Tech 4-0.
Arizona is led by No. 34 singles player Josie Usereau. She has an 8-3 record on the season.
Beach volleyball
Arizona beach volleyball begins the 2025 spring season when it competes at the GCU Invitational Saturday and Sunday.
Arizona faces Saint Mary’s and GCU Saturday, then will take on Benedictine University Mesa and Ottawa University Arizona Sunday.
Arizona will see GCU again next week when the UA hosts the Cactus Classic Feb. 28-March 1. Arizona will also face Oregon, Stetson and Boise State in that tournament.
Track and Field
Arizona track and field earned a pair of individual wins last week at the Tyson Invitational in Fayetteville, Ark.
Senior Zach Extine took first place in the men’s 60m hurdles with a time of 7.67, close to a school record.
Sophomore Tyler Michelini won the men’s shot put with a throw of 62-11.5 (19.19m) for his second individual event win of the season.
Several other Wildcats posted top 10 finishes at the invitational, including the men’s 4x400m relay team, which ran a season-best time of of 3:08.90 to take sixth overall.
Arizona high jumpers will compete Friday at the NAU Tune-Up
Lead photo courtesy of Arizona Athletics