Northwestern University Athletics
Wildcats Look to Remain Unbeaten Away From Home
2/9/2012 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
Feb. 9, 2012
No. 64 Northwestern (5-1, 0-0 Big Ten) at Middle Tennessee State (2-2, 0-0 Sun Belt)
Friday, February 10
Nashboro Village Athletic Club
Nashville, Tenn. • 3 p.m.
No. 64 Northwestern (5-1, 0-0 Big Ten) at No. 43 Vanderbilt (2-3, 0-0 SEC)
Sunday, February 12
Brownlee O. Currey Jr. Tennis Center
Nashville, Tenn. • 1 p.m.
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern will take the road this weekend for a pair of nonconference matches in Nashville, Tenn. against Middle Tennessee State on Friday, Feb. 10 at 3 p.m. and Vanderbilt on Sunday at 1 p.m. The Wildcats are 1-0 away from home thus far in 2012.
In its lone road contest this season, NU went down to Tuscaloosa, Ala. and upset No. 51 Alabama on its home turf, 4-3. Several players won critical points throughout the match, but it was senior Josh Graves (Milwaukee, Wis./Nicolet) who delivered the knockout blow with his 6-3, 7-6 win at No. 2 singles for Northwestern.
The 'Cats (5-1, 0-0 Big Ten) had their first setback of the season earlier this week when they were bested by No. 30 Notre Dame, 5-2, at Combe Tennis Center. Northwestern lost the doubles point for the first time all season and was not able to overcome the deficit during singles play.
Raleigh Smith (Miami, Fla./Gulliver Prep) and freshman Alex Pasareanu (Bluffton, S.C./Heritage Academy) each posted singles wins for the Wildcats last time out. Smith currently stands as Northwestern's lone undefeated singles player with a mark of 6-0 on the year. Pasareanu, who won at No. 5 singles, improved to 4-2 on the young campaign.
"We were all disappointed with the outcome on Tuesday," said head coach Arvid Swan. "But I think we were able to learn some valuable things out there that will certainly help us moving forward beginning with our match at Middle Tennessee State Friday."
Friday's match marks the fourth meeting all-time between NU and Middle Tennessee State. The 'Cats have won the previous three matches including last season's 5-2 triumph at Combe. This season's edition is slated to begin at Nashboro Village Athletic Club at 3 p.m.
On Sunday, Swan's squad will face the No. 43 Vanderbilt Commodores at 1 p.m. Vanderbilt finds itself in the throws of a three-match losing streak after opening the season with triumphs over Middle Tennessee State and BYU. The team boasts one nationally ranked player in senior Charlie Jones (No. 87).
The Wildcats and Commodores have met five times previously with Northwestern trailing the all-time series, 3-2. Then-28th-ranked Vanderbilt won the last meeting on Feb. 18, 2011, 4-3 at Combe.
Live stats will be available for both matches this weekend by clicking on the proper links at the top of the page.
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