Northwestern men's tennis team, ranked No. 55, faced two losses at home against No. 35 Michigan State and No. 44 Michigan over the weekend. Junior Ethan Schiffman emerged as a key player, securing both of Northwestern's singles victories during the matches. Northwestern is now 13-8 overall and 1-5 in Big Ten play. The team struggled in doubles, losing crucial points that contributed to their defeats, despite a strong performance from the No. 25 doubles duo of Greyson Casey and Carter Pate. The Wildcats will seek redemption next week against Penn State and No. 5 Ohio State.

By the Numbers
  • Schiffman went 2-0 in singles, with both wins at the No. 4 position.
  • Northwestern's record now stands at 13-8 and 1-5 in Big Ten matches.
State of Play
  • Northwestern lost a close match to Michigan 4-3, marking the most points scored against them since 2017.
  • The Wildcats captured the doubles point in the match against Michigan for the first time against them in years.
What's Next

The Wildcats will travel to face Penn State on March 27 and No. 5 Ohio State on March 29, looking to improve their Big Ten record. The team will need to build on their recent performances to challenge their upcoming opponents effectively.

Bottom Line

As the season progresses, Northwestern's ability to improve both in doubles and compete at all singles positions will be critical for reversing their current trend of losses within the Big Ten conference. Consistency from key players like Schiffman is essential to generate momentum.