Feb. 18, 2008

Complete Release in PDF Format

COMING UP
Michigan State plays its first of three-straight home matches, starting Wednesday, Feb. 20, as it plays host to No. 62 Western Michigan at 6 p.m. The Spartans hold a 53-27 margin over the Broncos in the all-time series dating back to 1925. MSU has dropped the last two matches against Western Michigan, and looks to avenge a 6-1 defeat in Kalamazoo last season.

LAST WEEKEND
MSU rebounded from a tough loss to No. 25 Tulsa two weekends ago, blanking Ball State 7-0 at home last Saturday. MSU jumped on the Cardinals early sweeping all three flights in a heated doubles competition, 9-8 (7-5), 8-6, 9-7.

In singles action, the Cardinals gave the Spartans a scare, but MSU held on and made the shots when it counted most, sweeping all six flights. Nick Rinks fought back from a first set loss at No. 1 to defeat the Cardinals' Eduardo Pavia, 6-7 (6-8), 6-4, 1-0 (10-4), extending his record to 9-1 on the year, while it took two tiebreakers for Adam Monich to finish off Ball State's Bret Berryman at No. 4, 7-6 (10-8), 7-6 (7-2).

SCOUTING THE BRONCOS
No. 62 Western Michigan has been dominating so far this season, as seven of its eight victories have come by a 7-0 margin. The Broncos hold an 8-1 record and currently have a five match winning streak. Junior Kevin Hayward leads the team with a 6-1 mark at No. 1 singles.

SENIOR LEADERSHIP
The Spartans are now 8-3 on the season, and are ranked 64th in the latest national polls. Seniors Nick Rinks (9-1) and Adam Monich (10-1) have only one loss each in singles dual-match play. The doubles duo of Rinks and Monich is 5-0 in dual-match play, and is currently ranked 30th in the nation.

SINGLES SENSATIONS
The Spartans have a combined record of 29-4 at the No. 1, 3 and 4 positions in dual-match play, going 10-1 at No. 1, 9-2 at No. 3, and 10-1 at No. 4. Nick Rinks has played all of his matches at No. 1, going 9-1 so far. Junior John Allare holds a 6-2 record at No. 3, while Adam Monich, Scott Rasmussen and Tyler Sauerbrey account for the remaining three wins. Monich has posted a 7-1 record for the Spartans at No. 4, and recorded his first-career victory at No. 1 singles over Gabriel Garcia of IUPUI on Feb. 2.

DANGEROUS DOUBLES
MSU has a combined doubles record of 23-10 in dual-match play in 2008. In addition to Rinks and Monich's undefeated mark at No. 1, Alex Forger and Billy Gardner (No. 2), and John Allare and John Stratton (No. 3) have won three of their last four doubles matches.

HOME SWEET HOME
On Wednesday the Spartans look to make it eight-straight home wins this season, and are currently undefeated at the MSU Indoor Tennis Facility. MSU has posted nine-consecutive home wins dating back to last season.

BIG TEN PLAY
Conference play begins on Feb. 29 when the Spartans travel to Champaign, Ill., to take on the Fighting Illini. Big Ten competition will prove to be tough again this season as 10 of the 11 teams in the Big Ten are currently ranked, with No. 3 Ohio State and No. 11 Illinois leading the way. Michigan State went 2-8 last season in conference matches.