No. 15 UCLA men’s tennis (5-2) will face No. 21 USC (7-3) at the David X. Marks Tennis Stadium on Saturday. Daily Bruin reporter Badri Viswanathan delves into the memories that shape the team’s perspective on the crosstown rivalry.

The ball had been subject to a world of duress by the competitors on the lead court.
Three sets of punishment.
It levitated in the air, escaping the turbulence for a fleeting moment.

The dual match was sealed with a duel on Saturday.
A 26-shot rally with victory hanging in the balance.
Sneakers squeaked. A pair of rackets authored a rhythmic melody that persisted for a full minute.

This post was updated Feb. 11 at 12:06 a.m.
No. 111 Rudy Quan walked to the net after posting a match-clinching forehand shot.
The sophomore turned to thank the umpire in a routine conclusion to his 33rd collegiate dual-match singles performance.

From suiting up for the Super Bowl to clinching NBA All-Star selections to being on the precipice of NFL awards, former Bruins have made waves across the sports world.

The winner raised his arms in triumph for a brief moment.
A crowd of nine converged upon him, sweeping him off his feet and tackling him to the ground.

Coach Stella Sampras Webster is no stranger to the Bruin-Cardinal rivalry, which dates back to her playing days.
“We never beat Stanford, to be honest,” she said.

This post was updated Jan. 23 at 9:17 p.m.
Despite being protected from incoming thunderstorms in Louisiana, the Bruins have a chance to set off lightning during their bayou back-to-back.

This post was updated Feb. 5 at 7:08 p.m.
The garage door was open.
The familiar clutter of NFL memorabilia, 1960s high school prom photos and peculiar gadgets that once occupied the space was replaced by kraft-colored boxes.

The teams congregated. Spectators’ eyes drifted from side to side. The ball floated through the warm afternoon air. Anticipatory silence enveloped the stadium.
The short-lived silence suddenly blossomed into a raucous frenzy.