Men's Tennis Takes on Two From the Big Ten
It has been an up and down season so far for the Oregon men’s tennis team (6-3) as it heads to Big Ten country to take on #37 Minnesota, Friday, in Minneapolis and then onto the Windy City for a match against #40 Northwestern on Saturday. The Ducks will be looking for their first win of the season over a top-40 team and revenge on last year’s 4-3 loss to the Golden Gophers at the Student Tennis Center.
Last Week ? The Ducks split the weekend, falling to #43 Boise State, 6-1, but then rebounding with a solid 6-1 win over UC Santa Barbara. 16th-ranked Sven Swinnen kept his perfect dual record intact (8-0) with two victories.
Scouting #37 Minnesota ? Despite being only 2-4, all four of the Gophers’ losses have come at the hands of top 30 teams. Avery Ticer is UM’s top singles player with a national ranking of #105 and a 4-1 dual mark. Last season, Minnesota defeated Oregon 4-3 in Eugene.
Scouting #40 Northwestern ? The Wildcats are 5-3 on the year with an impressive win over No. 24 North Carolina. The Cats are led by #114 Thomas Hanus who is 4-3 in dual play, with two wins over higher-ranked opponents.
Injury Report ? Senior Manuel Kost (8-4) has been sidelined with a wrist injury. The Ducks are hoping to get him back as soon as next weekend. Kost began the spring ranked No. 57 after reaching last season’s NCAA Championships.
Rankins ? Recent team, singles and doubles rankings can be found at www.collegetennisonline.com.
