Under NCAA rules, it will be months before college tennis teams can play dual matches.

On Sunday, however, the Northwestern men’s tennis team got a taste of dual competition at the Boilermaker Invitational in West Lafayette, Ind.

They appear to be months ahead of schedule, compiling an impressive 21-9 record over the two-day competition.

The tournament, the Wildcats’ third event of the fall season, was scored on an individual basis, but was set up like a dual match on Sunday. Players said it was ideal for freshmen to get used to regular-match play.

“It was just a good opportunity for us to all get out there and get some matches in,” sophomore Adam Schaechterle said. “They didn’t really keep track of the dual score, but everybody was anyway.”

Particularly impressive for the Cats were freshman Matt Christian and senior Ahmed Wahla, who both went undefeated, compiling a record of 11-0.

With the mock-dual score tied at the end of Sunday’s competition, Christian, who played in the No. 3 spot, was the last player in competition. He defeated Purdue’s Colin Foster 7-5, 2-6, 7-5, which would have given NU the win had the meet been an actual dual.

“(Christian) was the last one on the court and he won the clinching match.” Schaechterle said. “He really grinded it out.”

The men’s tennis team has also played tournaments in Peachtree City, Ga., and Chattanooga, Tenn., in their fall season. Their next tournament is the ITA Midwest Championships in East Lansing, Mich., next weekend.

“This weekend was a good warmup for next week,” Christian said.