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M' netters look to ace Spartans

Wolverines and Michigan State heading in opposite directions

When the Michigan men's tennis team faces off against intrastate rival Michigan State today, it will be a match between two teams going in opposite directions.

The Wolverines, winners of three in a row and five of their last six matches, face a Spartan team that has dropped two straight. Most recently, Michigan State lost a close 4-3 match to an Illinois squad that Michigan blanked last Sunday.

Led by No. 90 Alberto Brause at first singles, the Spartans have posted a 2-4 record in the Big Ten and are 10-10 overall. Even though Michigan State hasn't been on fire lately, Michigan's No. 1 singles player Peter Pusztai isn't looking past today's match.

"One thing we emphasize is not underestimating our opponents," Pusztai said. "This has always been an important rivalry for us, for bragging rights and recruiting, so we keep that in mind."

Michigan's performance on the season, however, is enough to leave the Spartans green with envy.

Leading the way for the Wolverines is Pusztai, who posted a career-high 32nd victory earlier this week. The Wolverines have been strong all year at singles with 20-match winner Arvid Swan at third singles, and freshman sensations William Farah and Jake Raiton splitting time at No. 6.

Senior singles players John Costanzo and Geoff Prentice provide important leadership as well as victories from the second and fifth positions, respectively. Sophomore David Paradzik provides steady play at No. 4 to round out the Michigan singles corps.

Since the loss to Northwestern March 30, the Wolverines have been on a roll, especially at the top two doubles positions. Since the Wildcats swept all three doubles matches, the teams of Pusztai and Costanzo, and Prentice and Swan, have gone undefeated, posting identical 3-0 marks.

"Right now, I'm playing stronger at doubles than at singles," Pusztai said. "I've been returning serve really well lately and once that gets going, everything else starts working, also."

And for opponents, that spells trouble, especially since Pusztai is 22nd in the nation at singles. He and Costanzo are ranked at doubles as well, coming into today's match as the No. 24 tandem.

"I've been floating along at singles," Pusztai said. "But (Costanzo) and I have been working well together lately."

Doubles has not been a strong position for the Spartans this season. None of Michigan State's doubles teams have more than one win in the Big Ten, and the three teams are a combined 3-12 in the conference. Without the doubles point, winning the match may prove to be difficult for the Spartans.

Michigan is approaching the rest of the schedule with confidence and, after a surprise in Evanston, the team doesn't want to let anyone else spoil its season.

"After Northwestern, it was important for us to get going to show the (Big Ten) that we could bounce back," Pusztai. "A win tomorrow would be a huge for us."