DENVER – Even though the MSU Denver men's tennis team keeps winning, it keeps slipping in the national rankings.
 
No matter, though, the 63^rd-ranked Roadrunners will have a chance to show their mettle next weekend at the Pacific West Conference Tournament.
 
Up first, though, is Saturday's 3 p.m. dual at Colorado College, a team the Roadrunners defeated 5-2 on April 3.
 
"This is our most talented men's team since I've been coaching," fourth-year MSU Denver coach Josh Graetz said. "And the results are backing it up. Our maturity is growing. They're pushing each other really hard, and that all get along. They're really tight, so there's no culture issues."
 
Andy Caruana has won 10 straight matches to improve to 16-4, Carlos Pinedo (15-5) and Billy McDermott (8-2) have each won five straight, and Alejandro Jimenez (13-3) has won four in a row. Jeanloup Auzias, playing primarily at No. 1 singles, was nationally ranked earlier in the season and is 12-6.
 
If things break right at the PacWest Tournament, a top-four finish could put the Roadrunners in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2018. They've been ranked sixth in the PacWest (the PacWest is also the West Region) most of the season.
 
"The guys are really excited about the potential to move past the conference tournament," Graetz said. "It's a real possibility."
 
Meanwhile, the Roadrunners' women have also qualified for the PacWest Tournament and will attempt to stay sharp with a doubleheader on Saturday, playing at CSU-Pueblo at 8:30 a.m. before stopping by Colorado College for a 3 p.m. dual on the way home.
 
"Saturday is going to be a long day for the ladies, especially, and myself," Graetz said. "Leave early, drive to Pueblo and play, get lunch, then drive to Colorado Springs and play again and come home. It's a long day with a lot of moving parts, and focus is going to be important for the ladies especially."
 
Playing short-handed, MSU Denver beat CSU-Pueblo 6-1 on April 2 and then beat Colorado College 7-0 the following day.
 
MSU Denver (10-8) has seen Marie Cool win five straight to improve to 11-11, while Gala Castello (7-7) and Monica Guarin (12-8) have each won four in a row.
 
With the PacWest Tournament scheduled to start Wednesday, Graetz looked at this weekend as a chance to stay sharp.
 
"The positive thing is that both teams are going," Graetz said. "And now we can use this weekend as an opportunity to hopefully move our seedings up, and as preparation for Arizona.
 
"A lot of schools aren't competing (this weekend). I knew this weekend was a couple of days before we left, and Colorado College and CSU-Pueblo are good matches for us to play before that."