Jan. 17, 2002
EVANSTON, Ill. - The first collegiate tennis matches in the Combe Indoor Tennis Center will be played this weekend as the Northwestern men's tennis team hosts Northern Illinois on Saturday and Furman on Sunday to open up the 2002 dual season.
"This place was made for the collegiate game," head coach Paul Torricelli said of the new complex.
Each of the six courts has its own scoreboard, with a larger board in the center to keep track of the dual. Spectator seating for 300 overlooks the playing area and also offers a view of Lake Michigan.
The Combe Center opened Jan. 7 as part of Northwestern's Sports Pavilion and Aquatic Center. The $10 million project also included construction of three hardwood basketball courts with an elevated jogging track.
The Wildcats, ranked No. 45 in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's national preseason poll, will take on Northern Illinois at 1 p.m. Saturday and No. 64 Furman at noon Sunday. Admission is free.
Furman sports the No. 14 doubles team of James Cameron and John Chesworth.
Two NU players currently hold Midwest Regional rankings-junior Jackie Jenkins (College Park, Ga./Westlake) checks in at No. 22, while freshman Tommy Hanus (Palatine, Ill./Palatine) is No. 25. The two team up for a No. 9 doubles ranking.