Michigan State University Athletics
Spartans Prepare to Close Out Regular Season at Home
4/20/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
April 20, 2016 
EAST LANSING, Mich. – The MSU men's tennis team (10-16, 0-9) closes out the 2015-16 regular season this weekend with home matches against Nebraska (12-10, 3-5) and No. 72 Iowa (11-14, 1-8).
"Nebraska and Iowa are going to come out ready to play," MSU head coach Gene Orlando said. "They've got "finish" on their mind as well. It's going to really come down to who wants it the most."
The Spartans open the weekend against Nebraska on Friday at 4 p.m. The Huskers are coming off a victory over Purdue on Sunday, but lost their seven previous matches, all against ranked opponents.
To close out the regular season, the Spartans match up with the No. 72 Iowa Hawkeyes on Sunday at noon. The Hawkeyes are 2-7 on the road and most recently beat Chicago State at home. Before that Iowa lost four consecutive Big Ten matches against ranked foes.
"We're going to have to play our best tennis and continue to believe and trust in our game," Orlando said. "Even though results haven't gone our way, we approach this like it's a new season. It's a new weekend and I think we're really growing and improving."
Sunday's match will be played simultaneously with the MSU women's tennis team's match against Northwestern at the MSU Outdoor Tennis Facility. The Spartans are set to honor former MSU head coach Stan Drobac before Sunday's match against Iowa.
WHAT TO EXPECT FROM NEBRASKA
Nebraska comes to East Lansing after a 4-2 win over Purdue on Sunday, April 17. Before that the Huskers lost their previous 7 matches. The Spartans look to avenge back-to-back losses to Nebraska last season, which included a 4-3 setback in the Big Ten Tournament.
While the Huskers are unranked as a team, Dusty Boyer moved into the No. 80 spot in the national singles rankings this week. Boyer leads the Huskers in singles play with a 16-4 mark, with all 16 victories coming at the No. 1 spot.
In doubles play, Dusty Boyer and Toby Boyer have a 16-2 record as a duo, with every win at No. 1 doubles.
WHAT TO EXPECT FROM NO. 72 IOWA
The No. 72 Hawkeyes are also coming off a victory in the form of a 7-0 defeat over Chicago State on Sunday. Before that the Hawkeyes scored just one team point across four consecutive Big Ten losses. Iowa, 2-7 on the road, is in search of its first road victory since April 1 over Dayton in Ohio.
The Spartans have had recent success against Iowa, with five consecutive victories over the Hawkeyes, including three wins in East Lansing since the 2010-11 season.
The Hawkeyes are ranked No. 72 in the nation, but have no ranked singles players or doubles teams. Jake Jacoby leads Iowa in singles competition with 14 wins spread between No. 5 and No. 6 singles. The team of Dominic Patrick and Josh Silverstein leads the way in doubles action with an 11-8 record.
"Nebraska and Iowa are going to come out ready to play," MSU head coach Gene Orlando said. "They've got "finish" on their mind as well. It's going to really come down to who wants it the most."
The Spartans open the weekend against Nebraska on Friday at 4 p.m. The Huskers are coming off a victory over Purdue on Sunday, but lost their seven previous matches, all against ranked opponents.
To close out the regular season, the Spartans match up with the No. 72 Iowa Hawkeyes on Sunday at noon. The Hawkeyes are 2-7 on the road and most recently beat Chicago State at home. Before that Iowa lost four consecutive Big Ten matches against ranked foes.
"We're going to have to play our best tennis and continue to believe and trust in our game," Orlando said. "Even though results haven't gone our way, we approach this like it's a new season. It's a new weekend and I think we're really growing and improving."
Sunday's match will be played simultaneously with the MSU women's tennis team's match against Northwestern at the MSU Outdoor Tennis Facility. The Spartans are set to honor former MSU head coach Stan Drobac before Sunday's match against Iowa.
WHAT TO EXPECT FROM NEBRASKA
Nebraska comes to East Lansing after a 4-2 win over Purdue on Sunday, April 17. Before that the Huskers lost their previous 7 matches. The Spartans look to avenge back-to-back losses to Nebraska last season, which included a 4-3 setback in the Big Ten Tournament.
While the Huskers are unranked as a team, Dusty Boyer moved into the No. 80 spot in the national singles rankings this week. Boyer leads the Huskers in singles play with a 16-4 mark, with all 16 victories coming at the No. 1 spot.
In doubles play, Dusty Boyer and Toby Boyer have a 16-2 record as a duo, with every win at No. 1 doubles.
WHAT TO EXPECT FROM NO. 72 IOWA
The No. 72 Hawkeyes are also coming off a victory in the form of a 7-0 defeat over Chicago State on Sunday. Before that the Hawkeyes scored just one team point across four consecutive Big Ten losses. Iowa, 2-7 on the road, is in search of its first road victory since April 1 over Dayton in Ohio.
The Spartans have had recent success against Iowa, with five consecutive victories over the Hawkeyes, including three wins in East Lansing since the 2010-11 season.
The Hawkeyes are ranked No. 72 in the nation, but have no ranked singles players or doubles teams. Jake Jacoby leads Iowa in singles competition with 14 wins spread between No. 5 and No. 6 singles. The team of Dominic Patrick and Josh Silverstein leads the way in doubles action with an 11-8 record.
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