Michigan State University Athletics
Men's Tennis Prepares for Northwestern and Wisconsin
3/31/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
March 31, 2010
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State men's tennis team (11-7) will play host to No. 48 Northwestern on Friday, April 2, at 2 p.m. and then to No. 30 Wisconsin on Saturday, April 3, at 12 p.m. Both matches will be played on campus at MSU.
Last Time Out
The Spartans fell to Iowa, 5-2, on Saturday, March 27, and by the same, 5-2, margin to Minnesota on Sunday, March 28 at the MSU Indoor Tennis Facility. The losses leave the Spartans at 11-7 on the 2010 season and 0-3 in the Big Ten. Against Iowa, sophomore Ronnie Hulewicz (Tequesta, Fla.) and freshman Denis Bogatov (Gurnee, Ill.) posted the two points for the Green and White. Hulewicz defeated Nikita Zotov at No. 2 singles, 6-4, 6-3, while Bogatov (Gurnee, Ill.) topped Reinoud Haal at the No. 3 position, 6-4, 6-2.
The two points against Minnesota were put up by, again Bogatov, and junior Jason Norville (Farmington Hills, Mich.) in singles action. Bogatov dominated the competition at the No. 3 spot after he defeated Dino Bilankov, 6-1, 6-3. Norville was able to outlast Phillip Arndt at No. 4 singles, posting a, 2-6, 6-3, 7-6(6), win.
Doubles action also saw a Spartan victory at the No. 2 spot by Joe Vallee (Grosse Pointe Farms, Mich.) and Norville over Tobias Wernet and Rok Bonin, 8-7(5).
Fierce Freshmen
The freshmen have continued to impress this season as Will Davis (Louisville, Ky.), Christian Roehmer (Mt. Pleasant, Mich.) and Bogatov have all contributed to the Spartans' success thus far this season.
Davis has seen action at No. 5 and No. 6 singles where he has compiled a 5-4 record on the year. Davis' most recent win came in a 7-6(8), 6-4 decision over Taylor Tunis of IUPUI.
Roehmer currently boasts a record of 3-1 in matches in the No. 6 singles slot. Roehmer won his most recent match over Malcolm Peace of IUPUI, 6-2, 6-1.
Bogatov continues to be the standout freshman competing in both singles and doubles action at the No. 3 position. After picking up two of the four Spartan singles wins last weekend, he stands at 13-4 overall in singles, the most singles wins on the team. He is also 13-3 with partner Clark Richardson (Leawood, Kan.) on the year at No. 3 doubles.
Dynamic Doubles
Doubles action has proven to be a strong point for the Green and White. MSU has attained the doubles point in each of its 11 wins this season. No. 3 doubles has posted the most wins out of any other doubles position having compiled a 14-4 mark. No. 2 doubles currently holds a record of 12-6, while No. 1 doubles has picked up eight wins.
The pairing of Bogatov and Richardson has been a stable part of the Spartan doubles lineup at the No. 3 position. The duo stands at an impressive 13-3 on the season. Bogatov and Richardson are 7-3 in their last 10 matches together.
At No. 2 doubles, Norville and Vallee have compiled a 10-6 overall record after most recently picking up the only Green and White doubles victory against Minnesota. Norville and Vallee are 6-4 in their last 10 matches.
The No. 1 doubles pairing of junior John Stratton (Monroeville, N.J.) and sophomore Austin Brooks (Houston, Texas) currently have seven wins on the season together. The most recent win the two earned was over Justin Haag and Jeff Rutherford of Eastern Illinois, 8-6.
Spartan Depth
The Spartans have showed versatility and depth with sturdy play from the sophomores and juniors. Stratton has the second most wins (nine) in dual play on the team, seeing action at No. 3 (1-0), No. 4 (4-2) and No. 5 (4-3) singles.
He impressed in his match against Notre Dame when he earned the only win for the Green and White after topping No. 105 Blas Moros at No. 5 singles, 7-6 (4), 6-0.
Sophomore Ronnie Hulewicz (Tequesta, Fla.) has seen a majority of the action at No. 1 singles, but has also played three matches at No. 2. Overall, Hulewicz has an 11-7 record in spring play.
Brooks has played primarily at the No. 2 spot where he posted his most recent win over Joe West of Dayton, 6-3, 6-0, to put him at 7-9 overall.
No. 48 Northwestern
The Wildcats are currently at 8-7 on the 2010 season and 0-2 in Big Ten play, having most recently dropped a 6-1,decision to Indiana. Joshua Graves currently holds the 84th place in the latest ITA National Rankings. The team is currently ranked 48th nationally and leads the all-time series between MSU and NU, 43-24, with this match marking the 68th meeting. Arvid Swan is in his third year as head coach of the Wildcats.
No. 30 Wisconsin
Wisconsin is currently ranked at No. 30 and sits at 11-5 on the 2010 season and 1-0 in conference play after picking up its most recent win over Indiana, 5-2. Moritz Baumann holds the 17th spot while teammate Marek Michalicka holds the 21st spot in the latest ITA National Rankings. The two have also teamed together in doubles action to rank in at No. 15. The Wisconsin tandem of Mike Dierberger and Luke Rassow-Kantor also managed to make the list, claiming the 79th spot. The last meeting between the Badgers and the Spartans ended in a 6-1 loss for the Green and White. The two schools will enter into the 70th meeting, with Wisconsin having a slight lead in the all-time series, 35-34. Greg Van Emburgh is in his fifth season leading the Badgers.
Next Up
The Spartans hit the road as they next take on Ohio State on Friday, April 9, in Columbus, Ohio at 3 p.m. and then Penn State on Sunday, April 11, in State College, Penn. at 12 p.m.
