Wildcats Ball Up Cardinals, 6-1

Friday, February 28

Muncie, Ind.

6:00 PM

Northwestern

Ball St.

3/1/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis

March 1, 2003

MUNCIE, Ind. - Northwestern's one-point deficit did not stand the test of time Friday against Ball State. In fact, it did not stand a chance as NU hit on all cylinders in singles play, dropping just two sets en route to a 6-1 route in Muncie, Ind. With the win, NU improved to 8-2 on the season and handed BSU its second straight loss.

The Cardinals took an early 1-0 lead after inching by the 'Cats, winning two of the three doubles matches by a combined three games. No. 60 Josh Axler (Huntington, N.Y./Walt Whitman) and Adam Schaechterle (Oconomowoc, Wis./Kettle Moraine) won, 9-7, at No. 3 doubles.

From that point on it was all NU. No. 82 Tommy Hanus (Palatine, Ill./Palatine) won his seventh consecutive match with a 7-6 (4), 6-3 decision against Chris Varga. Hanus improved to a team-best 17-8 overall and 8-1 at No. 1 singles. Axler, Chuck Perrin (Atlanta, Ga./The Walker School) and Ahmed Wahla (Lahore, Pakistan/Lahore American School) also earned straight set wins.

Jackie Jenkins (College Park, Ga./Westlake) and Schaechterle went the full three sets. After starting the year 0-4, Jenkins is at the .500 mark (10-10) for the first time. Schaechterle picked up his 12th win of the year, tied with Axler for the second most on the team.

Northwestern returns to the court March 7 at Purdue. Match time is slated for 3 p.m.

Northwestern 6, Ball State 1

Doubles
1. Matt Baccarani/Kevin Burnett (BSU) def. Jackie Jenkins/Chuck Perrin (NU), 9-7
2. Chris Varga/Patrick Thompson (BSU) def. Russell Bennett/Tommy Hanus (NU), 9-8 (5)
3. Josh Axler/Adam Schaechterle (NU) def. Klint Knable/Brad Rhodes (BSU), 9-7

Singles
1. Hanus (NU) def. Varga (BSU), 7-6 (4), 6-3
2. Jenkins (NU) def. Baccarani (BSU), 7-5, 5-7, 1-0 (10-3)
3. Axler (NU) def. Matt Laramore (BSU), 6-4, 6-2
4. Perrin (NU) def. Thompson (BSU), 6-4, 6-3
5. Schaechterle (NU) def. Rhodes (BSU), 6-3, 3-6, 7-6
6. Ahmed Wahla (NU) def. Paul Newman (BSU), 6-3, 6-2