Feb. 14, 2008

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MSU Head Coach Gene Orlando

COMING UP
Michigan State returns home, entertaining the Ball State Cardinals on Saturday, Feb. 16 at 12 p.m. at the MSU Indoor Tennis Facility in East Lansing. The matchup will be familiar territory for MSU head coach Gene Orlando as he was a 1987 graduate of Ball State. Orlando's alma mater holds a 10-8 edge over the Spartans in the all-time series.

LAST WEEKEND
MSU is coming off a 7-0 defeat to No. 25 Tulsa last Saturday, and the Spartans now sit at 7-3 in spring-season play. Tulsa took the first lead of the competition as they captured two of three doubles flights, and won the first point of the match. Michigan State's Adam Monich and Nick Rinks had a big win at No. 1 doubles for the Spartans, as they downed the No. 5 team in the nation, Tulsa's Ross Cunningham and Andy Connelly, 8-6. The Spartans would fall at No. 2 and 3 doubles, however, as No. 15 Tulsa's Ricardo Soriano and Arnau Brugues ousted Alex Forger and Billy Gardner, 8-2, while MSU's John Stratton and John Allare fell to Alberto Sottocorno, and Viktor Kolik, 8-2.

In singles play, MSU had no room for error as Tulsa came out on fire. At No. 1, Tulsa's Brugues defeated Rinks, 6-2, 6-3, handing the senior his first loss of the season. MSU's Monich also fell for the first time this season, as he was downed by Will Gray, 6-1, 6-3, in the fourth flight. At No. 2, Forger put up a strong fight against No. 44 Ricardo Soriano, but was taken out in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4, while Allare lost to Tulsa's Sottocorno, 7-5, 6-4, at No. 3.

LEADING THE WAY
With a 7-3 record, the Spartans have had a great start to the 2008 season. Senior Nick Rinks has led the way for the MSU, recording a 8-1 mark at No. 1 singles. Senior Adam Monich has also been a factor in MSU's strong start, posting an 8-1 singles record, while going 8-1 in doubles. Monich and Rinks have teamed up for a 4-0 record at No. 1 doubles, and are coming off a big win over the No. 5 doubles team in the nation.

CARDINAL SCOUTING REPORT
The Cardinals are 3-5 this season, and are coming off a 7-0 defeat to the No. 38 Washington Huskies. Jose Perdomo has the most wins on the team in singles, standing with a 4-3 record. Perdomo is 4-2 in his last six matches, and holds a 3-3 mark at No. 1 on the season. BSU is 12-12 in doubles, as Jorge Rodriquez and Perdomo have teamed up for a 2-1 record at No. 1.

UP NEXT
MSU plays host to No. 60 Western Michigan on Wednesday, Feb. 20 at 6 p.m. at the MSU Indoor Tennis Facility.