Weekly Release #6
2/18/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
Upcoming Schedule
Saturday, Feb. 22 -- vs. Butler (Varsity Tennis Center), Noon
Thursday, March 6 -- at Notre Dame (South Bend, Ind.), 3:30 p.m.
Men's Netters Host Weekend Match
The University of Michigan men's tennis team (4-4, 0-0 Big Ten) plays host to Butler on Saturday (Feb. 15). The match, Michigan's last at home before the Big Ten Conference season schedule begins, is set to start at noon at the Varsity Tennis Center.
Indiana State Match Rescheduled
Michigan's dual match against Indiana State that was postponed last Sunday (Feb. 16) has been rescheduled for Tuesday, April 8. The match will begin at 3 p.m. at the Varsity Tennis Center.
Scouting the Opponents
Butler -- The Bulldogs head to Ann Arbor with a 4-4 dual-match record. Butler finished the 2001-02 season with an 18-11 record, including a Horizon League Tournament championship and an NCAA Tournament berth. Michigan's only previous meeting with Butler came during the 1926-27 season, where the Wolverines posted a 6-1 win.
Butler on the Internet: www.butlersports.com
U-M Blanks Toledo Last Weekend at Home
Last Saturday (Feb. 15), Michigan broke a three-match losing streak, defeating Toledo 7-0 at the Varsity Tennis Center. The Wolverines won two of three in doubles play before posting wins in all six singles matches. U-M now holds a perfect 13-0 all-time record over the Rockets and improved its season record at the Varsity Tennis Center to 2-1.
Wolverines Listed No. 57 in Latest National Rankings
U-M enters the week ranked No. 57 in the most recent Intercollegiate Tennis Association national team rankings released on Wednesday, Feb. 12. Michigan dropped seven spots from the previous rankings (Feb. 5) after falling to William & Mary and Wake Forest two weeks ago (Feb. 8-9) in Winston-Salem, N.C.
Mees Makes Changes to Doubles Lineup
Head coach Mark Mees has changed the look of his doubles pairings at No. 1 and No. 2 in the past three matches. Senior co-captain Chris Rolf (Midland, Mich./Midland HS) has moved up to join sophomore Michael Rubin (Canton, Ohio/Canton Central Catholic HS) at No. 1, while fellow captain Chris Shaya (Bloomfield Hills, Mich./Saddlebrook Academy, Fla.) has moved from the top spot to No. 2 with sophomore Vinny Gossain (Okemos, Mich./Okemos HS).
How Swede It Is
Sophomore David Anving (Tvaaker, Sweden/Varbergs Gymnasieskola) is tied with Michael Rubin atop the list for 2003 dual-match singles wins. In eight matches, Anving has compiled a 6-2 record, including a 2-0 mark at No. 3 and a 4-2 record at No. 4. With an overall season record of 9-6, Anving needs three more victories to reach the 20-win plateau for his career. Anving also teamed with Vinny Gossain for an 8-2 win at No. 3 against Toledo (Feb. 15), which was his first career doubles match in dual match play.
Rolf Captures 15th Career Doubles Win
With a victory at No. 1 doubles against Toledo (Feb. 15), Chris Rolf earned his 15th career doubles win at U-M. Rolf has an overall doubles record of 5-7 this season, including a 3-5 dual match record playing at No. 1 and No. 2. Rolf needs one doubles win to set a new career best in overall wins for a season (6) and has already tied his career best in dual match season wins (3).
Carey Rubin Makes Most of Opportunity at No. 6
Freshman Carey Rubin (Canton, Ohio/Canton Central Catholic HS) is well on his way to a successful career at U-M, as he has gone undefeated in the two dual matches that he has played in this season. In his first career dual match, Rubin defeated DePaul's Michael Fessler 6-0, 6-2 at No. 6 (Jan. 19). Rubin improved his dual match record to 2-0 last weekend, posting a 6-3, 5-7, 1-0(2) win over Toledo's Freddy Gomez (Feb. 15).
Fischer Nears 10 Career Singles Wins
Sophomore Josef Fischer (Nuremberg, Germany/Bradenton Academy, Fla.) needs one singles victory to reach the 10-win plateau for his career. Fischer has compiled an overall record of 6-8 this season, including a 4-4 dual match record playing at No. 4 and No. 5. Fischer also has teamed with junior Anthony Jackson (Glendale, Wis./Nicolet HS) for a 5-3 dual match record at No. 3, the best mark of the three doubles positions.
Jackson Closing In On 40th Career Doubles Victory
With an overall doubles record of 7-8 this season, Anthony Jackson needs three more wins to reach 40 for his career as a Wolverine. Jackson has a career doubles mark of 37-35, including a 5-3 record at No. 3 in 2003 dual match season play.
Gossain Approaches 10th Singles Win of 2002-03 Season
Vinny Gossain needs one victory to reach 10 singles wins on the season. With an overall record of 9-9 this year, Gossain has surpassed his 3-4 mark that he recorded during his freshman campaign. Gossain holds a 3-5 record in 2003 dual match action (2-0 at No. 5, 1-5 at No. 6).
Next week
The men's tennis team takes a week off during the school's spring break. The Wolverines close out the non-conference schedule on Thursday, March 6, when they travel to South Bend, Ind., to face No. 44-ranked Notre Dame. The match is scheduled to start at 3:30 p.m.
Contact: Marc Ressler, Dave Ablauf (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
