Northwestern University Athletics
No. 13 Northwestern Continues Home Slate
3/30/2016 12:22:00 PM | Men's Tennis
EVANSTON, Ill. – Northwestern welcomes a pair of Big Ten opponents to the Combe Tennis Center this weekend in Wisconsin and Minnesota.
The 13th-ranked Wildcats host No. 30 Wisconsin on Friday night at 6 p.m. before Minnesota comes to town on Sunday for a 10 a.m. start.
Promotions
Free pizza will be served at both matches.
Last Time Out
Northwestern rattled off three more wins last weekend, including two in conference, to run its record to 17-2 (3-0). The Wildcats won 4-2 at Purdue and then shut out both Indiana and IUPUI at home.
Strong Kirchheimer was named Big Ten Athlete of the Week on Tuesday for his efforts during the last week. He went a combined 8-0 between singles and doubles and beat three ranked opponents.
The Wildcats
At 17-2, Northwestern is having one of the best seasons in program history. The Wildcats are off to a 3-0 start in Big Ten play and will look to add a couple more to that total this weekend.
Kirchheimer is having a remarkable season in singles, posting a 21-3 (15-1) record to this point. His .875 winning percentage ranks second all-time at Northwestern for a single-season. He has also partnered with Fedor Baev at No. 1 doubles for an 11-4 dual record.
Konrad Zieba is ranked 13th in the country and has a 17-6 (10-4) mark. He boasts 12 wins over ranked opponents. Sam Shropshire has moved all the way up to No. 42 in the singles rankings with an 8-4 record. He and Zieba team up at No. 2 doubles and have a 10-2 mark.
All three of Northwestern's doubles teams rank among some of the best duos to ever play for the program in terms of winning percentage. The Wildcats have been dominant in securing the first point of a match, doing so 16 times in 19 chances. The team is 16-0 when it scores first.
Scouting Wisconsin
Friday's opponent is also off to the best start in program history. At 13-1 (3-0), the Badgers have climbed to No. 30 in the national rankings. Wisconsin rides into Evanston on a seven-match winning streak. The Badgers get consistent play across the board and are led by Josef Dodridge at No. 1, who has a 9-3 record. No Wisconsin players are nationally ranked.
Scouting Minnesota
Minnesota is 6-11 (0-3) and has lost four of its last five entering this weekend. The Gophers most recently dropped a 4-1 decision at Iowa. The team's No. 1 and No. 2 singles players are the only ones with winning records. Minnesota does have a ranked doubles team in Matic Spec and Felix Corwin, but the duo has only played two matches in the dual season.
History
Northwestern holds a 62-39 advantage over Wisconsin. The Wildcats have won the last four meetings.
The series between Northwestern and Minnesota has been very competitive with the Gophers holding a slim 51-48 advantage. The teams have split the last four meetings. The Wildcats won a 7-0 shutout two years ago.
Next
Big Ten play continues when Chicago's Big Ten Team heads west for an April 8 match at Nebraska and an April 10 showdown at Iowa.
The Wildcats return home in a couple weeks to take on Michigan and Michigan State.
The 13th-ranked Wildcats host No. 30 Wisconsin on Friday night at 6 p.m. before Minnesota comes to town on Sunday for a 10 a.m. start.
Promotions
Free pizza will be served at both matches.
Last Time Out
Northwestern rattled off three more wins last weekend, including two in conference, to run its record to 17-2 (3-0). The Wildcats won 4-2 at Purdue and then shut out both Indiana and IUPUI at home.
Strong Kirchheimer was named Big Ten Athlete of the Week on Tuesday for his efforts during the last week. He went a combined 8-0 between singles and doubles and beat three ranked opponents.
The Wildcats
At 17-2, Northwestern is having one of the best seasons in program history. The Wildcats are off to a 3-0 start in Big Ten play and will look to add a couple more to that total this weekend.
Kirchheimer is having a remarkable season in singles, posting a 21-3 (15-1) record to this point. His .875 winning percentage ranks second all-time at Northwestern for a single-season. He has also partnered with Fedor Baev at No. 1 doubles for an 11-4 dual record.
Konrad Zieba is ranked 13th in the country and has a 17-6 (10-4) mark. He boasts 12 wins over ranked opponents. Sam Shropshire has moved all the way up to No. 42 in the singles rankings with an 8-4 record. He and Zieba team up at No. 2 doubles and have a 10-2 mark.
All three of Northwestern's doubles teams rank among some of the best duos to ever play for the program in terms of winning percentage. The Wildcats have been dominant in securing the first point of a match, doing so 16 times in 19 chances. The team is 16-0 when it scores first.
Scouting Wisconsin
Friday's opponent is also off to the best start in program history. At 13-1 (3-0), the Badgers have climbed to No. 30 in the national rankings. Wisconsin rides into Evanston on a seven-match winning streak. The Badgers get consistent play across the board and are led by Josef Dodridge at No. 1, who has a 9-3 record. No Wisconsin players are nationally ranked.
Scouting Minnesota
Minnesota is 6-11 (0-3) and has lost four of its last five entering this weekend. The Gophers most recently dropped a 4-1 decision at Iowa. The team's No. 1 and No. 2 singles players are the only ones with winning records. Minnesota does have a ranked doubles team in Matic Spec and Felix Corwin, but the duo has only played two matches in the dual season.
History
Northwestern holds a 62-39 advantage over Wisconsin. The Wildcats have won the last four meetings.
The series between Northwestern and Minnesota has been very competitive with the Gophers holding a slim 51-48 advantage. The teams have split the last four meetings. The Wildcats won a 7-0 shutout two years ago.
Next
Big Ten play continues when Chicago's Big Ten Team heads west for an April 8 match at Nebraska and an April 10 showdown at Iowa.
The Wildcats return home in a couple weeks to take on Michigan and Michigan State.
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