Feb. 23, 2005
EVANSTON, Ill. - Northwestern travels to Michigan and Michigan State this Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 26 and 27 to reopen Big Ten play. The Wildcats began conference play Feb. 12 with a 5-2 win over Wisconsin and have since posted a 1-2 record in nonconference action.
The 40th-ranked Wildcats (6-4, 1-0 Big Ten) most recently beat Oregon, 6-1, in one of NU's most complete matches of the season. The `Cats swept the doubles point for the second time this season (first time was Jan. 15 against DePaul). Senior Chuck Perrin, junior Adam Schaechterle and sophomores Willy Lock and Christian Tempke each posted singles and doubles wins against the Ducks.
Sophomore Matt Christian has won five of his last seven singles matches, while Schaechterle and senior Tommy Hanus have won four in a row at No. 2 doubles.
Saturday's 10 a.m. match in Ann Arbor, Mich. will be the first Big Ten contest of the season for the 39th-ranked Wolverines (5-2, 0-0).
Last weekend at home, Michigan earned a pair of solid 6-1 victories, upsetting then-35-ranked Alabama before comfortably beating Cornell. Against the Crimson Tide, Michigan dropped the doubles point, but stormed back to win all six singles matches for the victory. Against Cornell, the Wolverines claimed wins on seven of nine courts to improve to 5-2 overall.
Michigan holds a 59-24-1 all-time advantage over the 'Cats and beat NU in Evanston last year, 4-3.
On Sunday, the `Cats will travel to Spartan country for a Noon bout. Michigan State (8-3, 0-0) most recently dropped a hard-fought match, 4-3, to 24th-ranked Notre Dame last weekend. After sweeping doubles, the Spartans won three two singles match, losing in the decisive tiebreaker at No. 6 singles.
The 'Cats have a 40-21 all-time record against Michigan State, but the Spartans most recently won last year in Evanston, 5-2.
This weekend's trip to Michigan marks the beginning of a month's worth of competition away from Combe Tennis Center for NU. The Wildcats have three away matches in March, as they travel to 28th-ranked Tulane, 16th-ranked Pepperdine and 50th-ranked San Diego.