Michigan State University
Iowa
Men's Tennis Splits Sunday Matches to Conclude Regular Season
4/24/2017 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State men's tennis team concluded the regular season splitting its Sunday doubleheader, April 23. The Spartans dropped a 4-0 decision to Iowa but answered with a commanding 4-0 victory to finish off the season against UIC.
"The Spartans picked up a much needed win against UIC," said head coach Gene Orlando. "It was a great college experience to play a collegiate match underneath the lights with the Chicago Skyline in the background. Now it's the Big Ten Tournament up next.
Against Iowa
The Spartans shook things up a bit in doubles play, with Michael Dube and Colin Harvey paring up at No. 1, Brett Forman and Billy Shisler played at No. 2 doubles, and Doug Francken and Jasper Koenen took on No. 3 doubles. The Hawkeyes were too much for the Spartans taking No. 1 and No. 3 doubles to claim the doubles point.
MSU was unable to gather a point in singles action but Forman's match was pushed to a third set that was ultimately left unfinished due to Iowa clinching the first four points. Michigan State lost at No. 4, No. 2, and No. 6 singles in order for Iowa to clinch the match, which left the other three matches unfinished.
Against UIC
Michigan State ended the regular season on a positive note competing at UIC's campus with a 4-0 victory against the Flames while overlooking the Chicago skyline.
Koenen and Francken got the match started with a quick 6-3 win at No. 3 doubles, while Shisler and Forman battled to a 7-6 win at No. 2 doubles to leave the No. 1 doubles match of Colin Harvey and Michael Dube unfinished as the Spartans took the early 1-0 lead to head into singles play.
Jasper Koenen kept the momentum with an early 6-3, 6-0 win at No. 2 singles and Forman kept it rolling for Michigan State with a 6-2, 6-2 win against Carl Hedstrom at No. 1 singles. The meet was decided after Ivan Rakic rolled over Christian San Andres 6-4, 6-3 at No. 4 singles, which left the last three singles matches unfinished.
Michigan State finished the regular season with an overall record of 11-17 and finished 0-11 in the Big Ten Conference. MSU will now turn its attention to the Big Ten Tournament, which stretches from April 27-April 30. The Spartans have been given the 12th seed and will play fifth-seed Northwestern on Thursday, April 27 at 11:30 a.m.
Players Mentioned
