In a welcome break from the slush and snow of Big Ten competition in the Midwest, the Northwestern men’s tennis team will start its spring season in California later this month.
In recent years, the Cats have traveled to warmer climates in March to play outdoor matches and gain experience for the outdoor courts that await them back in the Big Ten.
NU will play San Diego and Fresno State during the California trip, and both matches promise to be close. The three schools are ranked within 10 slots of each other. No. 46 NU holds a slight edge, with Fresno State right behind at No. 48 and San Diego at No. 55.
But there’s one match the Cats have to wrap up this winter before they can start packing for the Golden State – a dual with No. 44 Harvard. The new Ivy will try to outplay the old Ivy as NU heads to Cambridge, Mass., on Saturday.
“It’s going to be tough, really tough,” senior captain Jamie Sahara said. “It’s going to be a long fought-out match, and hopefully we’ll end up on top.”
Freshman Tommy Hanus will have his third start in the No. 1 singles position against the Crimson. In last Saturday’s match against Indiana, Hanus earned his first victory in the coveted spot in a come-from-behind win.
“Once Tommy cuts down on errors, he’s fine,” Torricelli said. “Sometimes he tries to play too well too soon.”
Harvard has a 5-0 record, with its most recent victory coming Tuesday night in a sweep of Charleston Southern. Doubles competition should be tough, as the Crimson boasts the No. 19 doubles team of Oliver Choo and Jonathan Chu.
Holding a 4-0 Big Ten record and 9-3 overall mark, the Cats enter the final stretch of the season in good standing. Maintaining a perfect conference record will be a challenge, however, as NU faces stiff competition after Spring Break.
In April, NU will compete in dual meets against its six remaining Big Ten opponents. Only two of the matches will be at home, but Torricelli isn’t concerned about playing four conference matches on unfamiliar courts.
“Tennis players are used to playing on the road,” he said. “The away matches shouldn’t be a problem.”
NU’s toughest opponent this spring will be Illinois, currently No. 1 in the nation. The Cats face the Fighting Illini, the first Big Ten school ever to be ranked in the top spot, in Champaign on April 4.
Competition against Minnesota in Minneapolis on April 12 will be tough, as well. The Golden Gophers’ Harsh Mankad is currently the No. 1 singles player in the country.
Another ranked conference foe on the Cats’ agenda is No. 17 Ohio State. But it’s the Illinois match that is on the Cats’ minds now.
“Traditionally, we’re the top two teams in the Big Ten,” Sahara said. “Playing them on the road – the fans and heckling should be a lot of fun.”
