There is a lot at stake for the ISU tennis team this weekend.

When the Cyclones (4-12, 0-9 Big 12) face Kansas and Kansas State in its final regular season meets this season, they will have the opportunity to end their streak of six consecutive 7-0 losses, win their first conference meet in 64 attempts and send their seniors out on a positive note.

Despite having so much on the line, assistant coach Armando Espinosa said he feels his team is under less pressure to win than the opposition.

“Neither Kansas nor Kansas State wants to be known as the team who ended Iowa State’s losing streak,” Espinosa said. “Because of that, I think there is a lot more pressure on them to win.”

Winning, however, has been a struggle for the two teams this season. Both Kansas and Kansas State have sub-.500 records and are currently experiencing losing streaks of their own.

Kansas State will be the first up against the Cyclones when they square off at 3 p.m. Friday at the Washburn Tennis Facility in Manhattan, Kan. The Wildcats, presently mired in a five-meet losing streak, enter the contest with a record of 6-12 overall and 2-7 in the Big 12.

On Sunday, the Cyclones will conclude their 2008 regular season with an 11 a.m. meet at the University of Kansas.

While the Jayhawks (7-12, 3-6 Big 12) will be looking to put an end to their four-meet losing streak, the Cyclones are hoping to repeat their performance from March 1, 2003, when the Cyclones posted a dominant 6-1 victory over the Jayhawks – marking the last time they have recorded a conference victory.

For the Cyclones to come out successful in their matchup once again, Espinosa said he needs his team to continue to keep playing like they have over the past few weeks.

“Last week versus Missouri, we took three separate matches to the third set but were unable to win any of them,” Espinosa said. “If we play with that same intensity and focus again this week, we will be able to pull off the upset.”