Friday, March 19
Lincoln, NE
3 p.m. ET
Michigan State University
at
Nebraska
Photo by: Rey Del Rio/MSU Athletic Communications
Men’s Tennis Back on the Road for Matches at Nebraska, Iowa
3/17/2021 12:56:00 PM | Men's Tennis
EAST LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan State men's tennis team is back on the road this weekend for matches at Nebraska on Friday, March 19 at 3 p.m. ET and Iowa on Sunday, March 21 at 12 p.m. ET.
The Spartans (2-6, 2-4 Big Ten) fell at home last weekend to No. 8 Ohio State, 7-0, and Penn State, 5-2. MSU won the doubles point against the Nittany Lions, but dropped five of six singles match in the loss to PSU. Head coach Gene Orlando is looking for the Spartans to bounce back this weekend against the Huskers and Hawkeyes.
"We talked as a team that we're competitive in doubles; we have a .500 record in the Big Ten (in doubles), and if we can win the doubles point, we believe we can win the singles matches," said Orlando. "We have to win first sets and if we get a break in the first set, we have to close those matches out.
"Against Penn State, unfortunately we did have some breaks and we only won two first sets, but we had chances to get more sets. It's part of being there and part of the experience. The Minnesota match, we came from behind to win that match, and the Purdue match we did a pretty good job of closing it out. We were in a position vs. Penn State, but sometimes you have to be there to grow and learn and to finish the job. If we get in that position again, I'd like to think that we know how to respond and be more aggressive and go get it."
Nebraska heads into Friday's dual winless on the season at 0-7, while Iowa is ranked 48th in the ITA rankings with a 4-5 record (4-3 Big Ten).
"I think the team is in a really good spot," Orlando said. "Obviously we took two losses (last weekend), but the guys have responded in practice and are excited to play again. It's an opportunity for us to get some quality wins. Every match in the Big Ten you play quality players; you can't sit back and feel sorry for yourself, you have to get back out there and prepare. We know that we have an opportunity every time we step out onto the court that our game is there and we can play with anyone. Every team is good in the Big Ten; every weekend is a good opportunity for us."
Live stats and video of Friday's match will be available at huskers.com, while live stats and video of Sunday's dual will be at hawkeyesports.com.
SCHEDULE UPDATE: The Big Ten Conference announced a schedule update for the Michigan State-Michigan matches. Michigan State will host Michigan on Friday, April 9 at 3 p.m., and will travel to Ann Arbor on Sunday, April 11 at noon. The originally scheduled match at Michigan on Sunday, March 7 was postponed out of an abundance of caution due to COVID-19 concerns.
The Spartans (2-6, 2-4 Big Ten) fell at home last weekend to No. 8 Ohio State, 7-0, and Penn State, 5-2. MSU won the doubles point against the Nittany Lions, but dropped five of six singles match in the loss to PSU. Head coach Gene Orlando is looking for the Spartans to bounce back this weekend against the Huskers and Hawkeyes.
"We talked as a team that we're competitive in doubles; we have a .500 record in the Big Ten (in doubles), and if we can win the doubles point, we believe we can win the singles matches," said Orlando. "We have to win first sets and if we get a break in the first set, we have to close those matches out.
"Against Penn State, unfortunately we did have some breaks and we only won two first sets, but we had chances to get more sets. It's part of being there and part of the experience. The Minnesota match, we came from behind to win that match, and the Purdue match we did a pretty good job of closing it out. We were in a position vs. Penn State, but sometimes you have to be there to grow and learn and to finish the job. If we get in that position again, I'd like to think that we know how to respond and be more aggressive and go get it."
Nebraska heads into Friday's dual winless on the season at 0-7, while Iowa is ranked 48th in the ITA rankings with a 4-5 record (4-3 Big Ten).
"I think the team is in a really good spot," Orlando said. "Obviously we took two losses (last weekend), but the guys have responded in practice and are excited to play again. It's an opportunity for us to get some quality wins. Every match in the Big Ten you play quality players; you can't sit back and feel sorry for yourself, you have to get back out there and prepare. We know that we have an opportunity every time we step out onto the court that our game is there and we can play with anyone. Every team is good in the Big Ten; every weekend is a good opportunity for us."
Live stats and video of Friday's match will be available at huskers.com, while live stats and video of Sunday's dual will be at hawkeyesports.com.
SCHEDULE UPDATE: The Big Ten Conference announced a schedule update for the Michigan State-Michigan matches. Michigan State will host Michigan on Friday, April 9 at 3 p.m., and will travel to Ann Arbor on Sunday, April 11 at noon. The originally scheduled match at Michigan on Sunday, March 7 was postponed out of an abundance of caution due to COVID-19 concerns.
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