Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern Ranked No. 13 to Begin 2017 Season
1/4/2017 5:10:00 PM | Men's Tennis
EVANSTON, Ill. – Northwestern is ranked No. 13 to begin the 2017 season, according to the ITA national poll released Wednesday. Senior Strong Kirchheimer starts his final campaign ranked No. 26 in the individual singles rankings.
The Wildcats finished last season ranked 15th after finishing with a program-record 26 wins and a record-high .839 winning percentage.
Kirchheimer won the ITA Midwest Region title in the fall and competed at the National Indoor Championships in addition to being selected to represent the United States at the 2016 Master'U BNP Paribas International Collegiate Team Competition. The senior was First Team All-Big Ten last season and won 30 matches with the second highest single-season winning percentage in program history (.882).
The Wildcats are also returning seniors Konrad Zieba and Sam Shropshire. Zieba was a unanimous First Team All-Big Ten selection last season and reached as high as No. 8 in the national rankings while collecting 14 wins over ranked opponents. Shropshire was also First Team All-Big Ten and finished last season ranked No. 40 in the country.
Sophomore Ben Vandixhorn remains in the lineup after an impressive freshman campaign where he won 21 matches and posted the ninth-highest single season winning percentage in program history (.778).
The team also welcomes freshman Domink Stary, a projected starter, who opened his collegiate career by winning the Big Ten Singles Tournament in the fall by taking six matches in a row in straight sets.
Chicago's Big Ten Team begins its season Jan. 15 on the road at Vanderbilt before welcoming No. 7 TCU to Evanston for the home opener on Jan. 20.
The Wildcats finished last season ranked 15th after finishing with a program-record 26 wins and a record-high .839 winning percentage.
Kirchheimer won the ITA Midwest Region title in the fall and competed at the National Indoor Championships in addition to being selected to represent the United States at the 2016 Master'U BNP Paribas International Collegiate Team Competition. The senior was First Team All-Big Ten last season and won 30 matches with the second highest single-season winning percentage in program history (.882).
The Wildcats are also returning seniors Konrad Zieba and Sam Shropshire. Zieba was a unanimous First Team All-Big Ten selection last season and reached as high as No. 8 in the national rankings while collecting 14 wins over ranked opponents. Shropshire was also First Team All-Big Ten and finished last season ranked No. 40 in the country.
Sophomore Ben Vandixhorn remains in the lineup after an impressive freshman campaign where he won 21 matches and posted the ninth-highest single season winning percentage in program history (.778).
The team also welcomes freshman Domink Stary, a projected starter, who opened his collegiate career by winning the Big Ten Singles Tournament in the fall by taking six matches in a row in straight sets.
Chicago's Big Ten Team begins its season Jan. 15 on the road at Vanderbilt before welcoming No. 7 TCU to Evanston for the home opener on Jan. 20.
••••••
Be the first to know what's going on with the 'Cats -- Follow @NU_Sports on Twitter, become a fan of Northwestern Athletics on Facebook, check us out on Instagram, visit our Social Media page and download our mobile app from the Apple Store and Google Play! To get involved with the #B1GCats, become a season-ticket holder or join the Wildcat Fund!
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
David G. Kabiller NU for Life Program - 2025 Video
Tuesday, August 19
This is Northwestern Athletics | 2024-25 Recap
Tuesday, August 19
Northwestern Tennis | New Locker Room Virtual Tour
Wednesday, October 11
Men's Tennis- Gleb Blekher's Ace Clinches Berth in NCAA Tournament Second Round (5/5/23)
Friday, May 05
