Jan. 25, 2002
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern University is set to dedicate its newest athletic facility, the 10-million-dollar Combe Tennis Center, on Friday, February 1. A formal dedication ceremony and an exhibition tennis match between former Northwestern All-America Todd Martin and James Blake highlight the festivities.
Following the dedication ceremony (invitation only) at 6 p.m., the Center will open to the public at 7 p.m. for the match between Martin and Blake, who are both members of the 2002 United States Davis Cup team. The match begins at approximately 7:15 p.m. (One week later on Friday, February 8, the U.S. Davis Cup team takes on the Slovak Republic in Oklahoma City.)
The Combe Tennis Center is named in honor of Ivan Combe and his family, in recognition of their leadership gift. Combe, a former tennis letterman at Northwestern, was an avid supporter of Wildcat Athletics and founder of Combe, Incorporated, a health and beauty care company. He served the University as a life trustee beginning in 1979 and as a trustee for 11 years prior to that. Combe passed away in January 2000.
"It has been rewarding working with Ivan and the Combe family in making this facility a reality," said Rick Taylor, Northwestern's director of athletics. "Chris (Ivan's son) has provided outstanding leadership in this campaign, and it is our honor to recognize the Combe family for their generosity to Northwestern and our tennis programs. Quite simply, we could not have undertaken this project without their enthusiastic and generous participation."
The facility, located a block southeast of the Lincoln Avenue and Sheridan Road intersection in Evanston, is incorporated into the Henry Crown Sports Pavilion and is located on the lakefront. It consists of six tennis courts, locker rooms for the men's and women's teams, visiting team locker rooms, coaches' offices, an athletic training room and team meeting facilities. The Tennis Center also features modern electronic scoreboards.
Spectator seating for 300 people is situated at the north end of the courts on the second floor of the facility, allowing for entertaining and the opportunity for the community to become more intimately involved in the teams' success. The facility is also available to other members of the Northwestern community, including students, faculty and staff.
The extension of the Henry Crown Sports Pavilion displaced basketball courts and a running track that were used for recreation by the Northwestern community. As a result, this project also includes another gymnasium, which houses three hardwood basketball courts and an elevated running track for use by patrons of the Henry Crown Sports Pavilion.
"The Combe Tennis Center tells our student-athletes and recruits that Northwestern is committed to its tennis programs competing at the highest level, both in the Big Ten and nationally," said Paul Torricelli, head men's tennis coach.
Both men's and women's programs are perennial top-25 programs, with the women's team presently ranked ninth nationally.
"This facility is going to take the program to a whole new level," said Claire Pollard, head women's tennis coach.
The Combe Tennis Center opened in early January. The first intercollegiate event held in the new facility was a men's tennis match versus Northern Illinois on January 19. Northwestern won that match 7-0.
On Saturday, February 2, Northwestern's women's and men's tennis teams entertain BYU and Purdue, respectively, at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. in the new Center.