Tennis ready to face Big Ten foes

After opening up the Big Ten season with two impressive victories in Iowa and Wisconsin, the Michigan men's tennis team will have its home opener tomorrow, at the Varsity Tennis Center against its archrival Ohio State. The Wolverines will play Penn State on Sunday.

If the good weather hold up, both matches will be played on the William Clay Ford outdoor courts.

The match against the Buckeyes will mark the 85th meeting between the two programs. Michigan has owned the Buckeyes in past years, and the Wolverines hold a 69-13-2 record in the all-time series.

This weekend, Michigan will be looking to defeat the Buckeyes for the seventh straight time. Michigan beat Ohio State 7-0 last season in Columbus.

Sunday's match against Penn State will be just the 12th meeting between the two teams.

Although their rivalry has been short-lived, Michigan has proved to be the dominant team, winning 10 of the 11 matches that have been played.

The Wolverines have won all five previous meetings in Ann Arbor, including a convincing 7-0 victory last season.

Michigan opened up its Big Ten dual team match season with a pair of wins last weekend.

The Wolverines defeated Iowa, by the score of 5-2, and then went on to beat Wisconsin, 4-3, in a very competitive match.

Michigan started out last year's Big Ten campaign 6-0, but then lost steam towards the end of the season, dropping three out of their last four matches to finish with a mediocre 7-3 record. Then the team went on to a disappointing fourth-place finish at the 1998 Big Ten Championships.

This season the Big Ten Championships will be held in Ann Arbor, and Michigan is poised to make a run.

The squad extended its season-best winning streak to six this past weekend, matching last season's streak.

Now the team will shoot for the all-time mark of 11 straight victories, set during the 1996 season.

The Wolverines have been steadily climbing the Intercollegiate Tennis Association rankings all year, and have reached the No. 39 slot, in the poll that was released on March 22. Michigan began the season ranked No. 59, and six consecutive victories definitely contributed to its recent gain of votes.

Freshman Ben Cox snatched the team lead in victories this past weekend, winning both matches to start the Big Ten season.

Cox has a perfect 10-0 dual-match record, and on the season he is an impressive 17-4.

Cox not only has the team lead in victories but possesses the highest winning percentage on the team, with an .810.

With only three more victories Cox will become the first freshman since current teammate Matt Wright to reach the 20-win plateau.

With a pair of victories this weekend, the Wolverines may not only climb even higher in the ITA rankings, but would also inch closer to Michigan's all-time winning streak of 11 matches.

Tomorrow

Tomorrow - Michigan vs. Ohio State; Sunday -Michigan vs. Penn State

Where:

Varsity Tennis Center

(admission free)

When: Both games start at 1 p.m.

04-02-99