Sunday, March 31
Evanston, Ill.
1 PM
Michigan State University
5
at
2
Northwestern
18th-Ranked Men's Tennis Completes Successful B1G Road Weekend with Win over No. 60 Northwestern
3/31/2024 6:58:00 PM | Men's Tennis
EVANSTON, Ill. – No. 18 Spartans Men's Tennis perfected it's first Big Ten road weekend, collecting a ranked win in as many days with a 5-2 win over No. 60 Northwestern on Sunday afternoon.
MSU improves to 18-3 on the season, marking the first 18-win season for the program in six years with six-plus matches remaining on the schedule. The Spartans are now 4-0 on the season in B1G play, one of three teams sitting atop the conference with perfect records.
On Saturday, to the south in Urbana-Champaign, Ill., the squad grabbed a historic 4-3 win over No. 19 Illinois, overcoming an 0-3 deficit. The pair of road victories moves MSU closer to not only its second NCAA Tournament team appearance in program history and first since 2013, but also a potential first ever first round regional in East Lansing in May.
Head Coach Harry Jadun
"Big win for the Spartans here on the road in Chicago. It was a gritty win. We would have liked to get off to a better start in doubles, so credit to Northwestern there. Luckily, our guys they problem solved, they found a way and we're headed home with two ranked wins. I'm really excited for where this program's heading and I can't wait for senior weekend next week."
In his second year at the helm, Jadun has already collected more Big Ten wins than he did in his first season as head coach (3) and the second most for the program since he was a junior student-athlete on the team in 2014 (5).
Match Recap
For the second day in a row the Spartans found themselves down early, having been swept for the doubles point. Contrary to Saturday, however, MSU didn't let the situation worsen, answering back immediately in singles.
Michigan State would win each of the six first sets, requiring a tiebreaker on both the first and second singles courts. Thereafter, in quick succession, Spartans took care of their second sets as well.
It was sophomore David Saye who was off first, getting MSU on the board with a 6-3, 6-1 win on court five, his own third consecutive straight-set victory. Freshman Aristotelis Thanos followed with a 6-2, 6-2 win at No. 3 singles, his ninth straight win after starting his collegiate career with a loss on Jan. 19.
Then it was fellow freshman Taym Alazmeh's turn, who fresh into the lineup after not having played the day prior, claimed a 6-3, 6-3 victory in the six spot. Graduate student and national No. 34 Ronald Hohmann III was right behind his teammates, riding the momentum from his first set tiebreak to knock off his No. 2 singles counterpart 7-6 [7-4], 6-0, and clinch the victory for MSU.
With the outcome already decided at 4-1, the two remaining courts would play out their matches. Northwestern tacked on a consolation point, but sophomore Ozan Baris got the last say for the Spartans for a second match in as many days. The Okemos, Mich. native and national No. 11 earned his team-best 12th win of the season, winning a hard-fought battle on main court 7-6 [7-2], 5-7, (10-8), settling the day's final score at 5-2.
Up Next
The Spartans return home for their final home weekend of the regular season, hosting Purdue on Saturday, March 6 and Indiana on Sunday, March 7. Michigan State will honor it's five seniors on the latter of the two matches. First serves are set for noon ET.
Results
No. 18 Michigan State 5, No. 60 Northwestern 2
Doubles
1. Gleb Blekher/Felix Nordby (NUM) def. #3 Ozan Baris/Max Sheldon (MSU) 6-3
2. Greyson Casey/Presley Thieneman (NUM) def. #68 Ronald Hohmann/Sebastien Collard (MSU) 6-3
3. Saiprakash Goli/Chad Miller (NUM) vs. Graydon Lair/Aristotelis Thanos (MSU) 3-5, unfinished
Singles
1. #11 Ozan Baris (MSU) def. Presley Thieneman (NU) 7-6 (7-2), 5-7, 1-0 (10-8)
2. #34 Ronald Hohmann (MSU) def. Gleb Blekher (NU) 7-6 (7-4), 6-0
3. Aristotelis Thanos (MSU) def. Saiprakash Goli (NU) 6-2, 6-2
4. Felix Nordby (NU) def. Max Sheldon (MSU) 5-7, 6-4, 1-0 (10-8)
5. David Saye (MSU) def. Greyson Casey (NU) 6-3, 6-1
6. Taym Alazmeh (MSU) def. Chad Miller (NU) 6-3, 6-3
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1); Singles (5,3,6,2,4,1)
MSU improves to 18-3 on the season, marking the first 18-win season for the program in six years with six-plus matches remaining on the schedule. The Spartans are now 4-0 on the season in B1G play, one of three teams sitting atop the conference with perfect records.
On Saturday, to the south in Urbana-Champaign, Ill., the squad grabbed a historic 4-3 win over No. 19 Illinois, overcoming an 0-3 deficit. The pair of road victories moves MSU closer to not only its second NCAA Tournament team appearance in program history and first since 2013, but also a potential first ever first round regional in East Lansing in May.
Head Coach Harry Jadun
"Big win for the Spartans here on the road in Chicago. It was a gritty win. We would have liked to get off to a better start in doubles, so credit to Northwestern there. Luckily, our guys they problem solved, they found a way and we're headed home with two ranked wins. I'm really excited for where this program's heading and I can't wait for senior weekend next week."
In his second year at the helm, Jadun has already collected more Big Ten wins than he did in his first season as head coach (3) and the second most for the program since he was a junior student-athlete on the team in 2014 (5).
Match Recap
For the second day in a row the Spartans found themselves down early, having been swept for the doubles point. Contrary to Saturday, however, MSU didn't let the situation worsen, answering back immediately in singles.
Michigan State would win each of the six first sets, requiring a tiebreaker on both the first and second singles courts. Thereafter, in quick succession, Spartans took care of their second sets as well.
It was sophomore David Saye who was off first, getting MSU on the board with a 6-3, 6-1 win on court five, his own third consecutive straight-set victory. Freshman Aristotelis Thanos followed with a 6-2, 6-2 win at No. 3 singles, his ninth straight win after starting his collegiate career with a loss on Jan. 19.
Then it was fellow freshman Taym Alazmeh's turn, who fresh into the lineup after not having played the day prior, claimed a 6-3, 6-3 victory in the six spot. Graduate student and national No. 34 Ronald Hohmann III was right behind his teammates, riding the momentum from his first set tiebreak to knock off his No. 2 singles counterpart 7-6 [7-4], 6-0, and clinch the victory for MSU.
With the outcome already decided at 4-1, the two remaining courts would play out their matches. Northwestern tacked on a consolation point, but sophomore Ozan Baris got the last say for the Spartans for a second match in as many days. The Okemos, Mich. native and national No. 11 earned his team-best 12th win of the season, winning a hard-fought battle on main court 7-6 [7-2], 5-7, (10-8), settling the day's final score at 5-2.
Up Next
The Spartans return home for their final home weekend of the regular season, hosting Purdue on Saturday, March 6 and Indiana on Sunday, March 7. Michigan State will honor it's five seniors on the latter of the two matches. First serves are set for noon ET.
Results
No. 18 Michigan State 5, No. 60 Northwestern 2
Doubles
1. Gleb Blekher/Felix Nordby (NUM) def. #3 Ozan Baris/Max Sheldon (MSU) 6-3
2. Greyson Casey/Presley Thieneman (NUM) def. #68 Ronald Hohmann/Sebastien Collard (MSU) 6-3
3. Saiprakash Goli/Chad Miller (NUM) vs. Graydon Lair/Aristotelis Thanos (MSU) 3-5, unfinished
Singles
1. #11 Ozan Baris (MSU) def. Presley Thieneman (NU) 7-6 (7-2), 5-7, 1-0 (10-8)
2. #34 Ronald Hohmann (MSU) def. Gleb Blekher (NU) 7-6 (7-4), 6-0
3. Aristotelis Thanos (MSU) def. Saiprakash Goli (NU) 6-2, 6-2
4. Felix Nordby (NU) def. Max Sheldon (MSU) 5-7, 6-4, 1-0 (10-8)
5. David Saye (MSU) def. Greyson Casey (NU) 6-3, 6-1
6. Taym Alazmeh (MSU) def. Chad Miller (NU) 6-3, 6-3
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1); Singles (5,3,6,2,4,1)
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
2,1
#1 Singles Match
123
751
Presley Thieneman / 0 [NUM]
670
#2 Singles Match
12
76
Gleb Blekher / 0 [NUM]
60
#3 Singles Match
12
66
Saiprakash Goli / 0 [NUM]
22
#4 Singles Match
123
740
Felix Nordby / 0 [NUM]
561
#5 Singles Match
12
66
Greyson Casey / 0 [NUM]
31
#6 Singles Match
12
66
Chad Miller / 0 [NUM]
33
Order of Finish:
5,3,6,2,4,1
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
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