Last Sunday, the men's tennis team fell to the No. 63 Nebraska Cornhuskers 7-0.

This weekend, the squad faces two less mighty teams: Eastern Illinois and South Dakota State.

The fluctuation of competition is not new for the Golden Eagles. The team opened the season with four-straight 7-0 shutouts before losing 6-1 to then-No. 31 Wisconsin and 7-0 to Minnesota. The first close match of the season was a 4-3 victory over Texas-San Antonio last Friday.

Senior Trent Hagan said the team tries to stay focused no matter who they play.

"You're going to get more excited for a match that's against a higher ranked-team than another team," Hagan said. "But we do a pretty good job keeping our intensity up during every practice.

"We're not really focused on who we're playing but what we need to do in the match to play well."

Coach Steve Rodecap said some matches provide opportunities for younger players to develop.

"It's good where you can, in the middle of the season, pull out some of your guys who are a little banged up and throw in some of those guys who are still developing," Rodecap said. "I mean they're very important to the program. To give them opportunities is critical in their development."

A constant throughout the rocky schedule, Rodecap said, has been the maturation of Hagan. Hagan is 3-2 in the No. 1 singles slot this season, including a come-from-behind three-set victory against San Antonio last weekend. It was a match, Rodecap said, he might not have won earlier in his career.

"For him this year, he's just a lot more relaxed on the court," Rodecap said. "He's comfortable with what he can do and what he can't do. His serve is a lot better than it was last year, and his transition game has really picked up, so we're really proud with the way he's playing."

An area that still needs tinkering, Rodecap said, is the team's doubles play. The Golden Eagles have lost the doubles point in all three of its losses and in the narrow win over San Antonio.

"I think we have the luxury of switching things around," he said. "I feel like with the teams we put out there the last few matches, if things go well, we're pretty good."

Senior Stephen Shao, who is 1-4 at No. 1 doubles with Hagan this season, said he thinks the team's issue may be mental.

"I think its more just getting our heads right," Shao said. "Because all of us can play, so I think once we get that, we'll be ok."