Friday, April 14
East Lansing, Mich.
3 p.m.
Northwestern
7
at
0
Michigan State
No. 21 Wildcats Sweep Michigan State
4/14/2017 8:14:00 PM | Men's Tennis
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Northwestern continued its strong play Friday afternoon with a convincing win over Michigan State. The 21st-ranked Wildcats dominated throughout, winning 7-0 and dropping only two sets overall.
The win gives Chicago's Big Ten Team an 18-7 record on the season, with a 6-2 mark in conference play. Now winners of seven of the past eight, the 'Cats have three remaining Big Ten matches, including one at No. 14 Michigan on Sunday.
The first set of the day was taken by Brett Forman and Billy Shisler of MSU at No. 3 doubles, but it would prove to be just a minor setback for the visitors. The No. 52 pair of Sam Shropshire and Konrad Zieba took care of business at No. 1, meaning the doubles point would come down to the final set. Dominik Starý and Strong Kirchheimer, ranked 57th nationally, took the point for Northwestern with a 6-2 victory.
Jason Seidman quickly stretched the lead to 2-0, easing through his match at No. 6 singles with a 6-1, 6-0 win. Zieba followed suit at No. 2, winning 6-2, 6-1 over Michael Dube.
Starý then sealed the victory for the 'Cats at No. 4 singles, winning 6-4, 6-2 to bring the score to 4-0. The freshman has four straight wins in the conference and 19 overall victories on the season.
At No. 3, Shropshire continued the run of straight-set wins in his match against Jasper Koenen. The win was his third straight since returning to the lineup.
The 40th-ranked Kirchheimer then picked up his 23rd win of an impressive campaign, giving Ben Vandixhorn a chance to finish the complete sweep.
The sophomore played a tightly contested match with Billy Shisler at No. 5 singles, taking the first set but dropping the second to set up a deciding third frame. Vandixhorn came through, giving NU a 7-0 win over the Spartans.
Up next for the Wildcats is a tilt with No. 14 Michigan on Sunday, in which each team will be looking to add another signature win to its résumé. The match is set for 1:30 p.m. CT, taking place at the Varsity Tennis Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
#21 Northwestern 7, Michigan State 0
Singles
No. 1 - #40 Strong Kirchheimer (NU) def. Brett Forman (MSU), 6-3, 6-4
No. 2 - #54 Konrad Zieba (NU) def. Michael Dube (MSU), 6-2, 6-1
No. 3 – Sam Shropshire (NU) def. Jasper Koenen (MSU), 6-3, 6-4
No. 4 – Dominik Starý (NU) def. Ivan Rakic (MSU), 6-4, 6-2*
No. 5 – Ben Vandixhorn (NU) def. Billy Shisler (MSU), 7-5, 3-6, 1-0 (10-6)
No. 6 – Jason Seidman (NU) def. Colin Harvey (MSU), 6-1, 6-0
Order of Finish: 6, 2, 4*, 3, 1, 5
Doubles
No. 1 - #52 Sam Shropshire / Konrad Zieba (NU) def. Michael Dube / Colin Harvey (MSU), 6-2
No. 2 - #57 Dominik Starý / Strong Kirchheimer (NU) def. Jasper Koenen / Doug Francken (MSU), 6-2*
No. 3 – Brett Forman / Billy Shisler (MSU) def. Michael Lorenzini / Chris Ephron (NU), 6-2
Order of Finish: 3, 1, 2*
The win gives Chicago's Big Ten Team an 18-7 record on the season, with a 6-2 mark in conference play. Now winners of seven of the past eight, the 'Cats have three remaining Big Ten matches, including one at No. 14 Michigan on Sunday.
The first set of the day was taken by Brett Forman and Billy Shisler of MSU at No. 3 doubles, but it would prove to be just a minor setback for the visitors. The No. 52 pair of Sam Shropshire and Konrad Zieba took care of business at No. 1, meaning the doubles point would come down to the final set. Dominik Starý and Strong Kirchheimer, ranked 57th nationally, took the point for Northwestern with a 6-2 victory.
Jason Seidman quickly stretched the lead to 2-0, easing through his match at No. 6 singles with a 6-1, 6-0 win. Zieba followed suit at No. 2, winning 6-2, 6-1 over Michael Dube.
Starý then sealed the victory for the 'Cats at No. 4 singles, winning 6-4, 6-2 to bring the score to 4-0. The freshman has four straight wins in the conference and 19 overall victories on the season.
At No. 3, Shropshire continued the run of straight-set wins in his match against Jasper Koenen. The win was his third straight since returning to the lineup.
The 40th-ranked Kirchheimer then picked up his 23rd win of an impressive campaign, giving Ben Vandixhorn a chance to finish the complete sweep.
The sophomore played a tightly contested match with Billy Shisler at No. 5 singles, taking the first set but dropping the second to set up a deciding third frame. Vandixhorn came through, giving NU a 7-0 win over the Spartans.
Up next for the Wildcats is a tilt with No. 14 Michigan on Sunday, in which each team will be looking to add another signature win to its résumé. The match is set for 1:30 p.m. CT, taking place at the Varsity Tennis Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
#21 Northwestern 7, Michigan State 0
Singles
No. 1 - #40 Strong Kirchheimer (NU) def. Brett Forman (MSU), 6-3, 6-4
No. 2 - #54 Konrad Zieba (NU) def. Michael Dube (MSU), 6-2, 6-1
No. 3 – Sam Shropshire (NU) def. Jasper Koenen (MSU), 6-3, 6-4
No. 4 – Dominik Starý (NU) def. Ivan Rakic (MSU), 6-4, 6-2*
No. 5 – Ben Vandixhorn (NU) def. Billy Shisler (MSU), 7-5, 3-6, 1-0 (10-6)
No. 6 – Jason Seidman (NU) def. Colin Harvey (MSU), 6-1, 6-0
Order of Finish: 6, 2, 4*, 3, 1, 5
Doubles
No. 1 - #52 Sam Shropshire / Konrad Zieba (NU) def. Michael Dube / Colin Harvey (MSU), 6-2
No. 2 - #57 Dominik Starý / Strong Kirchheimer (NU) def. Jasper Koenen / Doug Francken (MSU), 6-2*
No. 3 – Brett Forman / Billy Shisler (MSU) def. Michael Lorenzini / Chris Ephron (NU), 6-2
Order of Finish: 3, 1, 2*
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