Northwestern University Athletics
Wildcats Finish Regular Season on the Road
4/16/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
April 16, 2009
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern (17-6, 5-3), entering the final weekend of Big Ten regular season play with a 5-3 conference mark, is set to face No. 2 Ohio State and Penn State on the road Friday and Sunday, respectively. With the Big Ten Tournament approaching next week, the 'Cats are tied with Minnesota for third place in the conference standings.
Wisconsin, Indiana and Michigan are in a three-way tie for fifth with 4-4 marks. The top five seeds receive byes into the second round of the tournament, which begins April 23.
SCOUTING THE BUCKEYES
Ohio State, the second-ranked team in the nation, is in sole possession of first place in the Big Ten after defeating Illinois last weekend. The Buckeyes (25-1, 8-0) have won 48-consecutive conferences matches and also hold a school-record 84-consecutive wins at home dating back to the 2002-03 season.
OSU is led by seniors Bryan Koniecko and Steven Moneke, who are ranked No. 3 and No. 9 nationally. Koniecko is 21-3 on the season, including a 17-3 record at No. 1. Moneke, who has split time between No. 2 and No. 3 singles, has a 22-1 record.
Play at Stickney Tennis Center is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. CST Friday afternoon.
SCOUTING THE NITTANY LIONS
Penn State (12-11, 3-5) enters the weekend after two nonconference victories over Bucknell and Bloomsburg Wednesday. The Nittany Lions will host Wisconsin Friday afternoon before hosting the 'Cats Sunday morning.
Senior Brendan Lynch, who plays in the top singles spot for PSU, holds a 14-17 record this season with a 10-12 mark in duals. Junior Guillaume St-Maurice has the Nittany Lions' best win percentage with an 11-7 mark in dual play.
Action between the 'Cats and Nittany Lions will begin at 9 a.m. CST Sunday morning at the Sarni Tennis Center.
LAST TIME OUT
It was Alexander Thams' turn to wow the crowd as his marathon three-set win over Iowa's Reinoud Haal decided the match in Northwestern's favor Sunday afternoon at Combe Tennis Center. In their third consecutive dual decided by the final match, this one lasting well over four hours, the Wildcats won four singles matches en route to defeating Iowa (11-7, 3-5) and upped their win streak to four as they continue to make their case for the NCAA tournament.
