Michigan State University Athletics
Rockets and Titans Coming to East Lansing this Weekend
1/28/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The No. 59 Spartans (2-3) will host the University of Toledo (1-2) and the University of Detroit Mercy (0-3) in their first home dual matches this season on Saturday. Michigan State will play the Rockets at 12 p.m., and the Titans at 6 p.m.
"It feels good to just not be on the road," head coach Gene Orlando said. "We are excited for the fans to see what this team can do."
The Spartans finished last season 11-2 at home, and look to continue their dominance at the MSU Indoor Tennis Facility.
Toledo and Detroit will be the first consecutive non-ranked teams Michigan State has played this season.
"We've been pressed by these teams before," Orlando said. "They are well coached; we have to be ready for their best shot. They're going to come in here like it is their championship."
Saturday will also be the second time this season the Spartans have had a doubleheader.
"This weekend is the beginning, it starts here," Orlando said. "This weekend will set the bar for the rest of our season."
Last Time Out
Michigan State showed its depth this past weekend, and is coming off a strong performance in the ITA Kickoff, hosted by No. 8 Georgia. The Spartans lost to the Bulldogs 4-1 on Friday, taking the doubles point before falling in singles play.
In the consolation round on Saturday, Michigan State dominated No. 55 Elon, 4-0. The Spartans were missing their usual No. 1 singles and doubles player John Patrick Mullane, who was out with a shoulder injury, and they were still the best doubles team in the tournament. The No. 1 doubles of Gijs Linders and Brett Forman, as well as the No. 2 doubles of Mac Roy and Michael Dube, went 2-0 on the weekend. Harry Jadun and Jasper Koenen played together in the No. 3 spot, and went 1-1. Michigan State won the doubles point over Georgia and Elon, and Utah lost the doubles point to both teams.
What to Expect from the Rockets of Toledo
The Rockets' lone victory is a 4-3 decision over Detroit, in their first dual match of the season. Toledo has a 5-2 loss to unranked Valparaiso, and fell 4-0 to No. 5 Ohio State. Against the Buckeyes, the Rockets did not win a single set. However, No. 1 singles player Stjepan Sisko fought Ohio State's No. 21 Chris Diaz to 6-6 in their first set. The set remained unfinished after Toledo lost the doubles point, and the singles matches in the No. 2, No. 3 and No. 4 positions. Michigan State is 17-0 against the Rockets, defeating them last year in East Lansing, 6-1.
What to Expect from the Detroit Titans
The Titans are 0-3 on the year, with losses to Western Michigan, Ball State and Toledo. Two of Detroit's three losses were extremely close at 4-3.
Against the Rockets, the Titans lost the doubles point, and split the singles matches. Detroit will have had nearly two weeks to prepare for Michigan State when it comes to East Lansing on Saturday, as its last match was against Toledo on Jan. 18.
The Spartans are 29-4-1 against the Titans, winning their match last year in East Lansing, 7-0.
Starting Sooner
Michigan State's win over No. 55 Elon was its first victory over a ranked opponent this season, and it came in only the fifth dual match. Last season the Spartans did not snag their first ranked win until match No. 17, against then-No. 58 Nebraska, March 28, in East Lansing.
