Michigan State’s men’s tennis team is gearing up for postseason play as they are ranked 19th in the country and set to compete in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament on Friday. The Spartans, seeded third, will face off against the sixth-seeded Indiana Hoosiers, who are ranked 68th nationally.
This matchup is crucial for Michigan State as they aim to secure their first Big Ten Tournament championship and their second-ever Big Ten title, with their last title dating back to 1967. Despite not making it past the second round since the tournament switched to a single-elimination format in 1999, the Spartans have won their last three first-round matches.
Indiana, with a regular season record of 16-10 overall and 4-5 in the Big Ten, will be looking to upset the Spartans. The Hoosiers are led by seniors Michael Andre and Ilya Tiraspolsky in doubles, and sophomore Sam Landau in singles.
Although Indiana holds the all-time series lead over Michigan State, the Spartans have emerged victorious in their recent matchups, including a 7-0 sweep on senior day. The upcoming showdown between Landau and Baris, the top players from both teams, promises to be a highlight of the competition.
Several players from Michigan State’s team have also received postseason awards, including Ozan Baris winning Big Ten Player of the Year, Reed Crocker earning the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award, and Aristotelis Thanos being named Big Ten Freshman of the Year. Graduate student Ronald Hohmann III also received second-team Big Ten honors.
The anticipation is high as the Spartans look to make a statement in the Big Ten Tournament and continue their recent success against the Hoosiers.