Northwestern University Athletics
Wildcats Head to ACC Country to Face No. 31 Tarheels
1/26/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
Jan. 26, 2006
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern's 51st-ranked men's tennis team packs its bags and heads to the East Coast for the first time this season to face No. 31 North Carolina at 5 p.m. Friday, Jan. 27 at the Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center.
"We're really excited for our first-ever trip to North Carolina," head men's tennis coach Paul Torricelli said. "This weekend will be a good challenge for us as North Carolina has a very strong team."
The Wildcats look to improve on their 3-2 record versus the Tarheels, their fourth ranked opponent of the season. The 'Cats are 1-2 this season versus ranked foes, topping No. 68 Ball State, but falling to No. 26 Notre Dame and No. 32 Louisville.
"We're heading into the heart of our schedule this year. We've already faced some ranked opponents, we have two this weekend and then we play Harvard and Tulsa--this stretch will be a major test for us," Torricelli said.
Senior captain Adam Schaechterle (Oconomowoc, Wis./Kettle Moraine) rolls into this weekend with four-consecutive singles wins. Schaechterle, who hasn't dropped a dual-singles match this season, went 2-0 last week, including a straight-set win over Notre Dame's 68th-ranked Eric Langenkamp. Schaechterle now stands tied for the team lead with nine overall wins this year.
Schaechterle has made his presence felt in the doubles game as well, posting a 3-2 record at No. 1 doubles alongside Matt Christian (Troy, Mich./Brother Rice). The two posted Northwestern's lone doubles win versus Notre Dame, beating the 12th-ranked team of Langenkamp and Ryan Keckley.
Christian Tempke (Wentorf, Germany/ Gymnasium Lohbrügge) has seen a majority of his action at the No. 1 singles spot this season. Tempke has recorded a 3-2 dual-match record, but is 9-6 overall.
Freshman Marc Dwyer (Peachtree City, Ga./University of Nebraska-Independent Study H.S.) has won two of his last three matches, and has played No. 3 singles for the majority of the season. While Dwyer's dual record is 3-2, he stands at 9-5 on the year and will be major contributor for the 'Cats throughout the remainder of the season.
North Carolina enters the dual with a 2-0 record after recording shutouts versus nonconference foes Elon and Campbell. The Tarheels have not dropped a single match this season.
Tarheel senior Raian Luchici enters the match as reigning co-ACC Player of the Week, earning the award after going a combined 4-0 last week. Luchici, who is the nation's fifth-ranked singles player, topped Campbell's Florent Wilpotte and Elon's Damon Gooch at No. 1 singles.
In doubles, Luchici, alongside Brad Pomeroy, also helped the Tarheels' top-ranked doubles team post a 2-0 record.
"This will be a good opportunity for our No. 1 doubles team to face the best doubles team in the country," Torricelli said.
North Carolina sophomore Benjamin Carlotti is the only other UNC player to earn a singles ranking, as he is tabbed No. 93 by the ITA.
Friday's match will be the fifth overall meeting between these two programs, with the series tied at two wins apiece.
Last season, Northwestern blew past then-No. 18 North Carolina 5-2 after taking the doubles point and winning four of six singles matches. Schaechterle, Christian and Willy Lock (Lima, Peru/Markham College) each earned wins versus the Tarheels last season.
After the North Carolina dual, the Wildcats remain in ACC country as they travel to Wake Forest at 11 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 29.
