Big Ten-leading Spartan men’s tennis prepared for battles at No. 1 Ohio State, Penn State

EAST LANSING, Mich. (WILX) - 18th-ranked men’s tennis will travel for a pair of critical Big Ten matches at national No. 1 Ohio State Saturday and Penn State Sunday, with first serves set for noon.

With both the Spartans and Buckeyes sitting atop the B1G standings with unblemished records, it is likely that Saturday’s winner will clinch at least a share of the Big Ten regular season title if they win their Sunday match as well. MSU faces the bottom of the table, Penn State, while OSU hosts No. 35 Michigan, who is also in pole position in league play.

With one win, Michigan State would tie the program’s second best Big Ten season with seven wins (last 1970) and with a weekend sweep, the 2023–24 Spartans would be off to their best B1G start since winning the league title at 9-0 in 1967.

Last Time Out

Last weekend, the Spartans achieved the winningest season in program history with a 5-2 win over Purdue on Saturday, April 6, MSU’s 19th win, and extended that historic mark the following day with a 7-0 sweep of No. 62 Indiana on senior day in East Lansing.

Sunday’s shutout of the Hoosiers marked the first time the Spartans have racked up multiple 7-0 sweeps in a Big Ten season since the ITA moved to the best-of-seven format in 1993 and first time with multiple B1G sweeps in a season since 1967.

Spartans in ITA DI Men’s Tennis Rankings Update (April 9, 2024)

Singles

· No. 14 – Ozan Baris

· No. 43 – Ronald Hohmann III

· No. 112 – Graydon Lair

Doubles

· No. 6 – Max Sheldon/Ozan Baris

· No. 61 – Ronald Hohmann III/Sebastien Collard

· No. 73 – Ozan Baris/Ronald Hohmann III

They’ve got Chemistry

In 23 matches, second-year head coach Harry Jadun has lined up 19 different doubles pairings, all of which have recorded at least one win, while 14 of the duos have winning records.

Scouting No. 1 Ohio State

The Buckeyes are 23-1 on the season, 5-0 in conference play and have held the top spot in the national rankings for 11 consecutive polls since Jan. 17. OSU has won seven straight; it’s lone loss of the season was 2-5 on the road at No. 12 Texas on March 10.

Buckeyes in ITA DI Men’s Tennis Rankings Update (April 9, 2024)

Singles

· No. 16 – JJ Tracy

· No. 19 – Cannon Kingsley

· No. 25 – Jack Anthrop

· No. 28 – Justin Boulais

· No. 114 – Robert Cash

Doubles

· No. 2 – Robert Cash/JJ Tracy

· No. 20 – Justin Boulais/Andrew Lutschaunig

· No. 49 – Alexander Bernard/JJ Tracy

· No. 67 – Jack Anthrop/Preston Stearns

· No. 80 – Bryce Nakashima/Robert Cash

· No. 86 – Justin Boulais/Robert Cash

Series History vs. Ohio State

Ohio State holds the series lead between the two sides, 55-39, 33-18, in Columbus, Ohio. The Buckeyes have won the last 31 matchups, including 13 straight sweeps, as the Spartans last got a point in 2014 and last came out on top 4-2 on April 29, 1998, in the Big Ten tournament. MSU last won in Columbus on March 21, 1998.

Scouting Penn State

The Nittany Lions are 4-16 on the year, 0-5 in conference action, while having lost 13 straight, as their last win was a narrow 4-3 victory on Feb. 4 against Mount St. Mary’s. PSU has been swept nine times this season. Penn State is not ranked nor represented in the ITA’s top 125 singles player nor top 90 doubles pairings.

Series History vs. Penn State

Penn State is 27-13 all-time against Michigan State, 18-5 in State College, Pa. The Spartans came out on top in the last meeting between the two squads, 4-1 in East Lansing on April 9, 2023. The Spartans last defeated the Nittany Lions in their home territory on April 22, 2012.

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