Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern Heads to Ball State
2/28/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
Feb. 28, 2003
EVANSTON, Ill. - Coming off a pair of impressive wins last week, Northwestern's men's tennis team takes its act back on the road tonight with a dual at Ball State. Match time is slated for 6 p.m.
NU made quick work of a short-handed DePaul squad, winning all seven points. Two days later the Wildcats traveled to South Bend, Ind. for a showdown with Notre Dame. Down 3-1, NU won the final three singles matches to secure the win, improving its record to 7-2 on the season.
Of the Northwestern players on a roll of late, none have been hotter than sophomore Tommy Hanus (Palatine, Ill./Palatine), ranked 82nd in the country. The reigning Big Ten Freshman of the Year has won his last six matches, all at No. 1 singles, and 11 of the last 13. Hanus is 16-8 overall, including a 4-1 mark against ranked opponents.
No. 43 NU also boasts strength in doubles, led by Jackie Jenkins (College Park, Ga./Westlake) and Chuck Perrin (Atlanta, Ga./The Walker School). The duo is 10-4 overall and 6-3 in dual competition. For their efforts, they are ranked 10th in the nation in doubles. Josh Axler (Huntington, N.Y./Walt Whitman) and Adam Schaechterle (Oconomowoc, Wis./Kettle Moraine) are ranked 60th.
The No. 60 Cardinals counter with Chris Varga and Patrick Thompson. Varga is 7-2 at No. singles and 14-9 overall, and Thompson is a team-best 23-3. As a team, Ball State as been on a tear, winning five straight matches before a 4-3 loss Wednesday at Indiana. The Cardinals are 3-3 against the Big Ten this season, having knocked off Michigan State, Purdue and Wisconsin (with losses to Illinois, Michigan and Indiana).
The Wildcats and Cardinals have met 18 times, with each team winning nine. Last season, NU handed BSU a 5-2 loss in Evanston.
