Northwestern University Athletics
The 2000 Men's Tennis Season in Review
5/26/2000 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
May 26, 2000
EVANSTON, Ill. - The Northwestern University men's tennis team ended the 2000 campaign with an overall record of 11-12, 4-6 in the Big Ten. In a year that was considered one of rebuilding -- NU had no seniors and only one junior in the lineup -- the Wildcats advanced to the NCAA Regional Championships for the sixth-straight season, only to meet top-ranked Stanford. The `Cats fell, 4-0, to the eventual national champions, but their effort provided much hope for the future.
The Wildcats started the season strong, winning their first two matches against Northern Illinois and DePaul. The team then faltered a bit -- after a 5-3 loss to Indiana to start conference play, the `Cats were the victims of some tough breaks, losing three of their next four conference matches 4-3. The youthful team rebounded nicely, responding with three 4-3 victories of their own in the following weeks.
In the Big Ten Tournament, seventh-seeded Northwestern won its opening match, 4-3, against Iowa, but fell in the second round, 4-1, to second-seeded Minnesota.
Junior Brad Erickson, the only Northwestern player to be selected to the 2000 All-Big Ten Team, led the Wildcats. Playing at number one singles for the first time in his career, Erickson finished the season with a 7-12 overall dual record, including 3-7 in Big Ten competition.
Erickson achieved his most success in doubles play, where he and sophomore Joost Hol finished the season with a 14-5 dual record, including an impressive 7-3 mark in conference play. By season's end, the tandem was ranked 37th in the nation and just missed getting a spot in the NCAA Doubles Championships.
Hol also achieved success in singles, posting Northwestern's best individual dual meet record at 13-7 including 6-4 in conference play. The Wildcats' No. 2 player had an impressive stretch From March 21 to April 22, winning eight of nine matches.
Although the 2000 season ended at the first round of regionals for Northwestern, the `Cats return their entire team next year, as they look to improve upon this season's seventh place conference finish.
