Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Middle Tennessee State
'Cats Nip Blue Raiders in Tennessee, 4-3
2/7/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
Feb. 7, 2009
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Northwestern men's tennis headed down to the Nashboro Village Athletic Club Saturday afternoon and took on the Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders, emerging with a 4-3 victory. Freshman Joshua Graves (Milwaukee, Wis./Nicolet) sealed the win for the Wildcats at No. 6 singles. The 'Cats now have a 6-0 record, their best since opening with the same mark during the 2000-01 season.
The doubles point proved to be the eventual deciding factor for the 'Cats. Alex Sanborn (Houston, Texas/Kinkaid) and Joshua Graves (Milwaukee, Wis./Nicolet) started it off with an 8-3 victory at No. 2 doubles over Richard Cowden and Kyle Wishing.
Andrew McCarthy (Cincinnati, Ohio/Indian Hills) and Alexander Thams (Stockholm, Sweden/Enskilda Gymnasiet) clinched the doubles point for the 'Cats with their 8-4 victory over Victor Melo and Morgan Richard at No. 3. Tobias Reitz (Reinbeck, Germany/Sachsenwaldschule Reinbeck) and Marc Dwyer (Peachtree City, Ga./University of Nebraska-Independent Study H.S.) fell in a tight match, 8-7(5), to MTSU's Robert McKenzie and John Peers.
After doubles, the momentum shifted in Middle Tennessee State's favor as they swept three tough singles matches. First, Northwestern's Reitz fell to MTSU's Robert McKenzie at No. 2 singles, 6-0, 7-6(3).
At No. 1, Dwyer dropped a close first set to Melo, 6-4. The Wildcat senior fought back in the second set, dropping the set in a 7-3 tiebreak.
Alexander Thams took on Peers at No. 3 singles in a highly contested battle. Thams took the first set in a tiebreak, 7-6(4), but then dropped the second and third sets. This left Northwestern with a 3-1 deficit, the lone point coming from the critical doubles point.
Momentum shifted in the 'Cats favor in the next three singles spots. First, junior captain Sanborn posted a three-set victory over Morgan Richard, clawing back after dropping the first set at love.
Freshman Eric Spector (Northbrook, Ill./Glenbrook North) tied it up for the 'Cats at 3-all in the match with his 6-3, 6-2 victory at No. 5 over the Blue Raiders' Alex McCann.
With the dual tied at 3-3, the deciding match was at No. 6 singles, between Wildcat freshman Joshua Graves and Middle Tennessee State's Richard Cowden. Graves won handily in straight sets to clinch the dual for the 'Cats.
With this victory, the 'Cats remain undefeated, posting a perfect 6-0 record for the season.
The Wildcats return to action next Saturday, February 15, at Combe Tennis Center as they host Ball State and Lewis at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m., respectively.
