Spartans Travel to Kalamazoo for In-State Rivalry Match

EAST LANSING, Mich. -- After more than a week off from competition, the Michigan State men's tennis program (5-6) returns to the court this weekend in Kalamazoo, Michigan to face the Western Michigan Broncos. The Broncos are 5-6 this season and are 3-2 in their last five matches.

Opponent	Date/Time/Location	Season Record	Game Coverage
Western Michigan	February 22, 2019 // 1:00 p.m. ET // Kalamazoo, Mich.	5-6	Live Stats

ABOUT MICHIGAN STATE
Michigan State had success in the Fall with several student-athletes showing signs of improvement heading into 2019. Sophomore Jack Winkler was the team's Fall wins leader with eight and held an 8-2 record over his last ten matches. Ivan Rakic, Billy Shisler and John Carlin each recorded four wins for the Spartans with Colin Harvey picking up three.

Through 11 dual matches the Spartans are led in singles by No. 1 Jack Winkler with a 6-3 record and No. 6 Anthony Pero who is 7-3 in his first year as a Spartan. Rakic was the lone Spartan to pick up a victory in their last time out, winning at No. 3 singles (6-4, 6-1) over Vanderbilt's Maxwell Freeman. Freshman Carson Gates is third on the time in dual meet victories with five while Rakic and freshman Nick Williams each have three. Winkler is the team's win leader in doubles with four, winning twice with Carlin and Williams.

At No. 1, No. 5, and No. 6 singles, the Spartans have compiled an 18-10 dual meet record.

ABOUT WESTERN MICHIGAN
Western Michigan has five wins on the season thus far, defeating Wichita State, Ferris State (2x), and Illinois-Chicago (2x). The Broncos have losses to Iowa, No. 9-ranked Texas A&M, California, Rice, Harvard, and No. 22-ranked Minnesota. At home, Western Michigan is unbeaten with a 4-0 record.

Jannik Opitz is the team's singles leader with a 6-2 overall record and a 4-2 mark at No. 1 singles. Peter Kuszynski matches Optiz in wins alongside five losses. Kuszynski is 4-2 at No. 5 singles with lone wins at No. 4 and No. 6. Jack Randall and Leonard Haupt each have five dual meet wins.

The Broncos have been successful on the doubles court with a 20-13 combined record and a 1-1 record against ranked opponents.

COACH ORLANDO'S THOUGHTS
"We had a bye week last week and we were able to squeeze a little more individual workouts in to focus on our individual games. We are prepared and looking forward to the opportunity to play a tough Western Michigan team on the road who clipped us at home last year. Continual improvement!"

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Players Mentioned

John Carlin

Carson Gates

Colin Harvey

Anthony Pero

Ivan Rakic

Billy Shisler

Nick Williams

Jack Winkler