Feb. 23, 2002
EAST LANSING, Mich. - It may not have been the easiest victory for Northwestern's men's tennis team this season, but Saturday's 4-3 win over No. 60 Michigan State was enough to push the No. 50 Wildcats to a 2-0 Big Ten Conference record.
NU, now with a 7-3 overall record, relied on its Nos. 2 and 3 doubles teams to secure the doubles point, then split 3-3 in singles matches with the Spartans.
Freshman Tommy Hanus (Palatine, Ill./Palatine) won by the largest margin, defeating MSU's Andy Formanczyk 6-3, 6-3 at the No. 2 slot. Jamie Sahara (Santa Maria, Calif./St. Joseph) and Josh Axler each won to secure team points at the Nos. 3 and 4 positions.
With the middle of the lineup secure, the 'Cats struggled at the top and bottom. Senior Ryan Edlefsen couldn't shake a losing streak at the No. 1 position, and Chuck Perrin and Ahmed Wahla both fell at the Nos. 5 and 6 spots.
The Wildcats continue the weekend road trip Sunday at No. 46 Michigan.
No. 50 Northwestern 4, No. 60 Michigan State 3
Doubles
1. Simonton/McGuire, MSU def. Edlefsen/Hol, 8-4
2. Hanus/Bennett, NU def. Mitchell/Formanczyk, 8-5
3. Jenkins/Perrin, NU def. Hourani/Topalo, 8-3
Singles
1. Chris Mitchell def. Ryan Edlefsen, 7-6, 6-2
2. Tommy Hanus def. Andy formanczyk, 6-3, 6-3
3. Jamie Sahara def. Goran Topalo, 6-4, 6-4
4. Josh Axler def. Eric Simonton, 7-6, 6-2
5. Jimmy McGuire def. Chuck Perrin, 7-6, 7-6(8)
6. Cameron Marshall def. Ahmed Wahla, 6-2, 4-6, 6-2