There was no detailed plan to turn the Colorado tennis team into a top-20 program.

Coach Nicole Kenneally just wanted her players to pay attention to detail.

The Buffs have become a top-20 team, matching the program's best ranking ever. The team has beaten No. 12 William & Mary and No. 14 Baylor this season and is 5-0 in the Big 12. That success is the product of a long, gradual process that is more a set of ideals than a mapped-out master plan.

"I think the process takes time to build, and it takes time to find the right artillery," said Kenneally, who is in her eighth season with the Buffs. "I don't think there is a date you can write down and say that's where it started or where it's supposed to end. And I also think it's because of the hard work the players have put in this year."

Colorado is in the middle of its best season since 2003, when the Buffs last went to the NCAA Tournament. There has been improvement to the program's infrastructure since then, such as the

construction of the South Campus Tennis Courts in 2003. That allowed the team to play and practice at its own off-campus facility with improved courts and a better atmosphere for crowds. The Buffs also have brought positive tennis news to the school after a controversial decision to cut men's tennis last season.

Now the only tennis team at CU is about to start one of the toughest stretches of the season. The Buffs play at Texas A&M today at 3 p.m., and live scoring can be followed at www.aggieathletics.com. The Aggies dropped to No. 26 in the latest poll, and the Buffs also play at Texas on Saturday. That's followed with a Monday match at No. 13 Fresno State. Including those matches, the Buffs will play seven straight on the road before hosting Oklahoma on April 21.

"We always try to take advantage of every opportunity to play good teams. And a lot of the matches are conference matches, so those had already been scheduled," Kenneally said. "But we're excited. We like to play good teams, whether it's at home, on the road or at a neutral site. It's all about proving yourself."

Kenneally, who has led the Buffs to four-straight winning seasons, didn't get the program here by accident. Her tenure has provided stability for the program and instilled principles that all players understand. She also has been able to bring in the type of players she wants on her team.

"Footwork is big for me. And I just look for a good, all-around person," she said. "I want someone who can work well in a unit for team success. Individual success is important, but so is realizing that the team is more important."

After this weekend's matches, the Buffs have four more conference matches, and the Big 12 Tournament on April 26-29. That leaves plenty of room for the team to falter down the stretch before the NCAA Tournament. But, if her team pays attention the small details of each match, Kenneally doesn't expect that to happen.

"We just need to make sure we do the process and take care of everything one day at a time," she said. "If you don't, that's what can get you in trouble."