Michigan State University Athletics
Men's Tennis Prepares For Trip To Michigan Wednesday
3/30/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
March 30, 2004
EAST LANSING, Mich. -
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This Week For The SpartansMichigan March 31 6 p.m. AwayIowa April 3 Noon HomeMinnesota April 4 Noon Home
No. 52 Michigan State Spartans
(13-7 Overall, 0-2 Big Ten)
Head coach: Gene Orlando
Career (16th Season): 183-217
MSU (13th): 152-177
No. 48 Michigan Wolverines
(8-4 Overall, 0-2 Big Ten)
Head coach: Mark Mees
This week for the Wolverines:
Wed. vs. Michigan St.; Sat. vs. Minnesota; Sun. vs. Iowa
Iowa Hawkeyes
(3-9 Overall, 0-3 Big Ten)
Head coach: Steve Houghton
This week for the Hawkeyes:
@ Michigan State; Sun. @ Michigan
No. 43 Minnesota Golden Gophers
(7-7 Overall, 3-1 Big Ten)
Head coach: David Geatz
This week for the Gophers:
Fri. vs. W. Mich.; Sat. @ Michigan; Sun. @ Michigan St.
NEXT IN LINE: No. 52 Michigan State gets into the heart of its Big Ten schedule with three difficult matches this week. The Spartans visit Ann Arbor Wednesday to take on No. 48 Michigan before returning home for the weekend to face Iowa Saturday and No. 43 Minnesota Sunday. Both matches against the Hawkeyes and Golden Gophers are scheduled to be played at the outdoor courts located south of the Duffy Daugherty Football Facility.
MICHIGAN'S RESUME: The Wolverines began the season by winning six straight matches and eight of their first nine. With an 8-4 overall record, Michigan has faced 10 common MSU opponents, including impressive victories over Western Michigan, DePaul, Butler, Wake Forest, Toledo, Brown and Ball State. However, UM enters the week riding a three-match losing streak, falling to Notre Dame, Penn State and Ohio State. Michael Rubin leads the Wolverine charge with a 19-9 overall record and a natianal rankings of No. 49. Brian Hung and Anthony Jackson have combined to play at No. 1 doubles in all 12 matches, recording a 7-5 mark during that span. MSU won last year's meeting, 5-2, in East Lansing.
IOWA'S RESUME: Iowa currently holds a six-match losing streak and an 0-3 conference mark. Many of the Hawkeyes' losses have come against tough teams: Purdue, Illinois and Minnesota as well as non-conference foes Western Michigan and South Alabama. However, UI put together three victories in mid-February, defeating DePaul, Marquette and Indiana State. Chaitu Malempati controls the No. 1 singles spot with a 1-11 dual match record while Sebastian Delgado holds a 4-6 record at No. 2. Five different combinations have played at No. 1 and four different duos have played at least two matches at No. 2. Michigan State edged Iowa in 2003 in Iowa City, 4-3.
MINNESOTA'S RESUME: The Golden Gophers have looked very strong in Big Ten play this season, with only a loss to No. 1 Illinois and victories over Northwestern, Iowa and Purdue. Their 7-7 overall record does not show that all seven defeats have come at the hands of ranked competition. No. 53 Chris Wettengel and No. 96 Aleksey Zharinov highlight the top of Minnesota's singles lineup and the duo of Clay Estes and Avery Ticer sit at No. 50 in the ITA doubles rankings. The Gophers have won six straight over the Spartans with MSU's last victory coming in 1998.
LAST TIME OUT: Michigan State suffered two losses to open its Big Ten season last weekend. MSU dropped a 6-1 decision at Ohio State March 27 then lost a gut-wrenching 4-3 contest at Penn State March 28.
PLENTY OF TIME LEFT: Even though the Spartans dropped their first two matches of the Big Ten season, head coach Gene Orlando has been in the same situation as early as last year. Similar to this season, State fell to Ohio State and Penn State in 2003 to begin conference play at 0-2 but went on to finish the rest of the schedule at 5-3, locking up fifth in the Big Ten, its highest finish since 1996 when MSU also placed fifth.
