The MSU men’s tennis team concludes their regular season schedule with five straight matches against unranked opponents, following back-to-back losses against teams ranked in the top 25.
After knocking off No. 54 ranked Iowa on the road at the end of March, the Spartans dropped two in East Lansing to No. 24 Northwestern and No. 3 Illinois, failing to score more than one set in both contests.
Before their weekly practice Tuesday, head coach Gene Orlando said his team can’t measure where they are at the end of a tough loss and re-evaluating can only happen at the end of the season.
“Obviously (we’ve had) two quality teams that we faced,” Orlando said. “I felt like we were in each match, but what separates us from a top 25 program is finishing. We played a great schedule and had some great opportunities, but we still have to close.”
Holding on to a record of 2-4 in the Big Ten, MSU will have a smoother road toward breaking the .500 mark as they take on the lesser half of the Big Ten. It may sound disappointing on paper, but three of their losses came from teams ranked higher than No. 12 in the nation.
“The conference is always strong. It’s one of the top in the country,” Orlando said. “We have a lot of representation in the top 25, and it comes down to programs like ourselves to solidify and strengthen our conference.”
Recuperating before Wednesday will be key for the Spartans, who are preparing to take on their in-state rivals, U-M, for the first time this season.
U-M has won three games while dropping 14. The Wolverines have been victorious in the previous two meetings between the programs, both with a 4-3 score.
“We know that it’s going to be another battle,” Orlando said. “They’re going to give their A game, and we know that we have to be ready, but we’re excited about playing them at home and getting another opportunity to play a good team.”
Orlando said that U-M isn’t experiencing the type of season they were anticipating, but they’re still going to have a lot of fight in them come Wednesday.
“I know that they’re more of an injured animal ready to fight,” Orlando said. “And since ... we’re MSU, they’re going to bring their A game regardless of how they’re feeling.”
