Weekly Release #7
3/14/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
Tuesday, March 19 -- vs. Bowling Green (Varsity Tennis Center), 4 p.m.
Saturday, March 23 -- at Indiana State (Terre Haute, Ind.), 1 p.m.
Sunday, March 24 -- at Ball State (Muncie, Ind.), 1 p.m.
Wednesday, March 27 -- vs. Notre Dame (Varsity Tennis Center), 3 p.m.
Non-Conference Action Ahead
The University of Michigan men's tennis team (7-4, 1-3 Big Ten) returns to action after a week off, hosting Bowling Green Tuesday afternoon (March 19, 4 p.m.) at the Varsity Tennis Center. The Wolverines then hit the road for a pair of non-conference matches, taking on Indiana State Saturday (March 23) at the Wabash Valley Tennis Club in Terre Haute, Ind., and then facing Ball State Sunday (March 24) at the YMCA Indoor Tennis Center in Muncie, Ind. Both road matches are slated to start at 1 p.m.
U-M vs. Bowling Green
This will be the third meeting between the Wolverines and Falcons, with Michigan winning the two previous matches. Last season against Bowling Green, Michigan did not surrender a set, sweeping all three doubles matches and the six singles contests on its way to a 7-0 win in Ann Arbor. The only other meeting between the two schools came during the 1969-70 season, with the Wolverines claiming a 9-0 victory.
U-M vs. Indiana State
Michigan will look to avenge its loss to the Sycamores last season, a 5-2 defeat at the Varsity Tennis Center in the first-ever meeting between the two schools. Indiana State is currently ranked No. 24 in the national ITA rankings.
U-M vs. Ball State
Michigan will meet the Cardinals for the sixth time, looking to stay unbeaten in the all-time series. The Maize and Blue posted a 5-2 win last season in Ann Arbor for a perfect 5-0 record against Ball State. This will be the first time that the Wolverines will face Ball State away from home.
Beam Bouncing Opposition
Senior Henry Beam (Kalamazoo, Mich./Loy Norrix HS) is coming off a huge win against No. 16-ranked Danny Westerman of Wisconsin last weekend to improve his season singles record to 8-3. Two of Beam's three losses have been to opponents who have been ranked in the top 20 in the nation, a 7-6(5), 7-6(6) loss to No. 11 Amer Delic of Illinois and 6-2, 6-4 decision to top-ranked Harsh Mankad of Minnesota. Beam is looking for his 77th career singles win this week and holds an overall record of 21-17 at the No. 1 spot.
Beam Climbing Closer to All-Time Wins List
With his success this season, Henry Beam is creeping closer to the top of Michigan's career singles victories list. With an impressive 13-7 singles record this season, the senior has improved his career mark to 76-46, with a 43-27 record in dual match action. As Beam nears the 80-win mark, he looks to pass 2000 graduate John Long, who holds a career singles record of 79-40, for 12th on Michigan's all-time wins list.
Lockin and Beam Look to Regain Momentum
The Wolverines' No. 2 doubles team of Henry Beam and freshman Matt Lockin (Lilburn, Ga./S.D. Independent Study) looks to start another impressive string of victories this week after dropping a close match against Wisconsin to snap their 10-match winning streak (10-1 on the year). Lockin leads U-M in doubles victories for the 2001-02 season, with an overall record of 13-4. Beam is close behind with a mark of 10-1 and is just one victory shy of matching a career best in doubles wins in a single season. He has already posted a new career high in doubles dual match wins (10), bettering his eight-win efforts in the 1999-2000 and 2000-01 seasons.
Lockin Seeks 20th Win
Freshman Matt Lockin enters the three-match week looking to become the first player this season to reach the 20-win plateau in singles. Lockin has compiled a team-best 18-8 overall singles record and is tops on the squad with nine dual match wins (9-2). Lockin split a pair of matches this past weekend to move his Midwest Regional record to 12-5.
Jackson Having Success at No. 3
Sophomore Anthony Jackson (Glendale, Wis./Nicolet HS) looks for his 17th singles win this week after bettering his opponents in three of the four Big Ten matches this season. Jackson provided his team with the only point against Illinois, taking a 6-4, 3-6, 6-1 match over Mike Kosta, and helped Michigan to team victories with singles wins at Northwestern and Wisconsin. The sophomore is currently second on the team in singles victories, posting a 16-13 record this season.
Next Week
U-M hosts a Wednesday afternoon match (March 27, 3 p.m.) against regional foe Notre Dame at the Varsity Tennis Center. The Wolverines and Fighting Irish will meet for the 43rd time on the hardcourt, with U-M holding a 39-3 all-time series advantage.
Contact: David Ablauf (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
