Weekly Release #4
2/8/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
Upcoming Schedule
Saturday, Feb. 14 -- vs. Toledo (Varsity Tennis Center), Noon
Sunday, Feb. 22 -- vs. Brown (Varsity Tennis Center), Noon
This Week
The University of Michigan men's tennis team (4-0) looks for its fifth consecutive dual match victory this weekend, as the Wolverines welcome Toledo to the Varsity Tennis Center on Saturday (Feb. 14) for a noon match.
Scouting The Opponent
Toledo -- The Rockets, who hold a 3-3 record in dual match action this season, return five letterwinners from last year's squad. Spearheading the group is junior Khalid Al Nabhani, who competes at No. 1 singles and doubles for Toledo. Al Nabhani was named Mid-American Conference Player of the Week (Jan. 27) after sweeping his singles and doubles matches against Youngstown State and Dayton the previous weekend. Head coach Al Wermer is in his eighth year at the helm of the men's tennis program at Toledo. Michigan holds a perfect 13-0 record against the Rockets, including a 7-0 blanking last season in Ann Arbor. Toledo on the Internet: www.utrockets.com.
Last Time Out
The Wolverines saw their first real test of the season two weeks ago, as No. 33-ranked Wake Forest visited the Varsity Tennis Center on Jan. 31. Michigan pulled off a commanding 6-1 upset of the Demon Deacons, taking two of three matches in doubles before five solid wins in singles action. Senior Anthony Jackson (Glendale, Wis./Nicolet HS) and junior David Anving (Tvaaker, Sweden/Varbergs Gymnasieskola) cruised to straight-set victories at No. 1 and No. 6, respectively, to give U-M the early advantage in singles. Freshmen Brian Hung (Hong Kong, China/Sagemont Virtual School), Ryan Heller (Northbrook, Ill./Glenbrook North HS) and Steve Peretz (Brooklyn, N.Y./The Dwight School) played each of their opponents to three sets at Nos. 3-5, respectively, before prevailing in the end to clinch the team victory of the Maize and Blue.
Doubles Pairings Continue to Roll
U-M has earned the doubles point against all four of its opponents this season, giving up just two of 12 matches. The No. 1 team of Anthony Jackson and Brian Hung and the No. 3 squad of junior Vinny Gossain (Okemos, Mich./Okemos HS) and Steve Peretz remain undefeated this season at 4-0 and 2-0, respectively. The pairing of junior Michael Rubin (Canton, Ohio/Canton Central Catholic HS) and Ryan Heller has a 3-1 mark at No. 2, while Gossain and junior Josef Fischer (Nuernberg, Germany/Bradenton Academy) hold a 1-1 record at the third spot this year.
The Future Looks Bright
Michigan's three freshmen have yet to lose a dual match, with Ryan Heller, Brian Hung and Steve Peretz all posting pefect 4-0 singles marks. Heller has dominated each of his four opponents at No. 4, surrendering just one set in four matches this season. In Peretz's four wins at No. 5, he has given up just two frames. Following a three-set marathon win against Western Michigan's Jose Orozco at No. 3 to open the season, Hung has given up just one set against his last three opponents. The three newcomers also have impressive doubles records, with Hung going 4-0 with Anthony Jackson at No. 1, Heller teaming with Michael Rubin for a 3-1 record at No. 2, and Peretz pairing with Vinny Gossain for a 2-0 mark at No. 3.
Swede Posts First Dual Win of 2004
David Anving picked up his first singles win of the dual match season against Wake Forest, defeating David Loewenthal 6-1, 6-3 at No. 6. Anving, who holds a 2-6 singles mark in 2003-04, is two singles wins shy of 30 for his career (28-26). Anving, who has split his two dual matches this year, is also one win shy of 25 for his dual match career (25-17).
AJ Approaches 40 Dual Wins
With his 6-0, 6-3 defeat of Wake Forest's No. 77-ranked Andrew Hamar at No. 2, Anthony Jackson moved within one singles win of 40 for his dual match career. In four seasons, Jackson has compiled a dual singles mark of 39-29 and an overall record of 66-52.
Jackson and Gossain Near Benchmarks in Doubles
After a victory at No. 1 with Brian Hung last weekend, Anthony Jackson is two doubles wins shy of 50 for his career. The co-captain has compiled a career doubles mark of 48-50, including a 35-32 record in dual match competition. Jackson also needs one doubles win for his 10th of 2003-04. Vinny Gossain, who is 3-1 in dual match doubles at No. 3 this season, is one win short of 20 for his career. In three seasons, Gossain has collected a career doubles mark of 19-26, including a dual match record of 10-16.
Rubin Nears 20 Career Singles Wins
Sophomore Carey Rubin (Canton, Ohio/Canton Central Catholic HS) is one singles victory shy of 20 for his career at Michigan. In just two seasons, Rubin has collected an impressive record of 19-5, including a dual match mark of 4-1. Rubin, who dominated his fall competition with an 11-2 record, has defeated both of his dual match opponents at No. 6 this season.
Rubin Approaching 20-Win Mark in Dual Match Singles
Michael Rubin needs one more dual match victory to reach 20 for his career. In three seasons, Rubin has recorded a 52-23 overall singles mark, including a 19-10 record in dual match play. The co-captain is also four doubles wins shy of 30 for his career (26-32).
Home Cookin'
With the win over Wake Forest, U-M has won eight consecutive dual matches at the Varsity Tennis Center dating back to last season. The Wolverines have won 32 of their last 40 matches at home dating back to the 2000-01 and have compiled an overall record of 56-16 at the facility.
Wolverines Remain at No. 57 in National Poll
After opening the dual match season ranked No. 57 in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association preseason national team rankings, the Wolverines remain in that spot in the most recent poll (Jan. 27). Michigan faced its first nationally ranked opponent in Wake Forest, upsetting the No. 33-ranked Demon Deacons 6-1 last weekend. Conference rival Illinois is ranked No. 1 in the nation, while Ohio State rounds out the Big Ten appearances in the Top 25 with a No. 15 ranking.
Meet the Head Coach
Mark Mees is in his fifth season with the Wolverine men's tennis program and has compiled an overall record of 56-39, including a 20-20 mark in the Big Ten. Mees has led Michigan to three NCAA Championship appearances in his four years as head coach, including a trip to the second round in his first season (1999-2000). Last season Mees reached his second major coaching milestone, earning his 50th career win at Michigan with a 4-3 victory over Indiana State in Ann Arbor.
Next Week
The Wolverines close out their six-match homestand against Brown next Sunday (Feb. 22). The match is scheduled for a noon start at the Varsity Tennis Center.
Contact: Marc Ressler (734) 763-4423
