Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern Releases 2010-11 Men's Tennis Schedule
8/6/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
Aug. 6, 2010
2010-11 Men's Tennis Schedule
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern head coach Arvid Swan has compiled a challenging fall and spring schedule that features nine duals against teams that qualified for the 2010 NCAA Championships. NU's 2010-11 season gets underway with the Milwaukee Tennis Classic Sept. 17.
"Similar to last year, we've compiled an extremely competitive nonconference schedule for 2011," said Swan, now in his fourth season at the helm of the Wildcats. "Last year we were able to beat a few top teams, including No. 18 Alabama, and we came up just short in others. Playing well in those early matches gives our team more confidence the rest of the season."
Northwestern makes its home debut at its annual home fall tournament, the Wildcat Invitational, Oct. 15-17, where true freshmen Sidarth Balaji and Chris Jackman each won singles titles in 2009. The tournament typically gives NU a preview of its competition at the ITA Midwest Regional Championships, which follows only a week later and this year will be hosted by Notre Dame.
Swan and the Wildcats remain in the Midwest for its final tournament of the fall individual season, the Big Ten Singles Championship, taking place Oct. 29-Nov. 1 at Michigan State.
Moving into the New Year, Northwestern opens its dual campaign for the second straight season with a doubleheader against Ball State and Illinois-Chicago on Jan. 16. Following a trip east to face Harvard on Jan. 29, the Wildcats can make themselves comfortable at Combe Tennis Center by playing six of their next eight matches at home. Included in that stretch are home dates against 2010 NCAA Tournament teams Vanderbilt and Western Michigan.
Northwestern's Big Ten season commences on March 25 at Minnesota followed by a Sunday tilt at Wisconsin on March 27. Perennial powerhouse Ohio State -- which finished 2010 ranked No. 5 nationally -- and Penn State each make trips to Evanston during the first weekend of April. The Wildcats and Nittany Lions became very familiar with each other at the tail end of the 2010 season, with PSU pulling out a 4-3 win in the regular-season finale only to see Northwestern avenge its loss with a dramatic 4-3 victory in the opening round of the Big Ten Tournament.
"As has traditionally been true, the Big Ten is again one of the most competitive conferences in the country from top to bottom," Swan said. "Our league has done very well on the national stage recently and there are absolutely no weak teams. It requires you to be at your best every match."
After closing the regular season at home against Michigan State and Michigan, Northwestern will be off to the Big Ten Championships at the A.C. Nielsen Tennis Center at Wisconsin.
All home men's tennis matches at both the Combe Tennis Center and the Vandy Christie Outdoor Tennis Center are free for all fans.
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