With the conference season rapidly approaching, the Michigan men's tennis team is preparing to defend its Big Ten title.
The Wolverines will begin the dual-match portion of their season this weekend, as they travel to the O'Charley's Tennis Classic at Tennessee.
Unlike the individual events in which the Wolverines have participated so far, a dual-match gives them a taste of what their conference meets will be like.
Players' matches count toward an overall team score, something the Wolverines have yet to experience this year.
"So far, we have only been in individual tournaments," Michigan coach Brian Eisner said. "We have to get back in the team concept. It's a different type of focus."
The Wolverines will face nationally ranked and third-seeded Alabama-Birmingham in the first round, and Eisner said he isn't looking for any Southern hospitality.
"They're always a good team," he said. "At this point in the season, you never know exactly what to expect, because you don't know who graduated or how their new players are, but they'll definitely have talent."
If the Wolverines advance, they will face either South Florida or second-seeded Middle Tennessee State in the second round. South Alabama, Virginia, Indiana and host-Tennessee round out the eight-team field.
The Wolverines will bring eight players, the same eight who contributed to the team's strong showing last weekend at the Big Ten singles championship.
Six players will enter the singles bracket and then pair up to form three doubles teams.
Dual-match scoring awards the winner of the majority of the three doubles matches one point, as well as one point for every singles victory.
"It's extremely important to do well in doubles," Eisner said. "They are played first, so they set the tone for the rest of the match."
Eisner noted that the singles matches are often split between the two teams, making the doubles matches the decisive factor.
Junior Brook Blain and freshman Matt Wright join to form the No. 1 doubles team, and juniors Arvid Swan and Miki Pusztai combine to make up the No. 2 entry.
Pusztai is playing in just his second event as a Wolverine after transferring from Virginia Tech, where he was the top doubles player since his freshman year.
Junior David Paradzik and sophomore William Farah complete the doubles lineup.
With only a few more tournaments before the Big Ten season commences, Eisner knows the team must gain valuable experience from this weekend.
"When we evaluate this tournament, it will be an all-team evaluation," he said. "All of the major events we will play in, such as the Big Ten and NCAA tournament, will be dual- matches. We need to get our team focus back.
"We like to represent Michigan as a team."