MACOMB, Ill. - Western Illinois men's tennis (8-15 overall, 2-1 Summit) is set to take on South Dakota State (9-10, 2-1 Summit) in Galesburg, Ill. on Friday (April 19). Originally scheduled to be played in Macomb, the match is being moved to Lakeside Racquet Club due to weather.
The winner of the match will also clinch a spot in the Summit League Tournament.
THE BREAKDOWN
WHO: South Dakota State at Western Illinois WHEN: Friday, April 19 at 3:30 p.m. LOCATION: Galesburg, Ill. VENUE: Lakeside Racquet Club
NOTES
LIKELY LINEUP: Freshman Christoph Haertel enters as the normal top singles player. The Germany native was a top junior player overseas and all-state at Quincy High School as a foreign exchange student.
At No. 2 singles, senior Patrick Hammers brings the most collegiate experience to the Leatherneck lineup. As the only senior on the roster, Hammers is a two-time All-Summit League selection.
Another freshman, Bradley Holt, has seen action at No. 1, 2, and 3 singles. Just the second four-star recruit in WIU men's tennis history, Holt is tied for second on the team with a 9-13 singles mark.
Junior Ben Yue also brings collegiate experience into the Leatherneck lineup, including anywhere between top singles and fourth singles this season. Yue had a team best 9-8 record at No. 2 singles in 2011-12.
Western's typical No. 5 singles player, sophomore Mitch Granger, is currently ranked by the ITA as the No. 17 singles player in the NCAA Division I central region. Granger leads the squad with a 10-12 singles record.
The sixth singles slot is held by another freshman, Max Cederkall, who has played as high as third singles this year. The Sweden native is 9-13 in singles play, including 4-5 in the sixth slot.
At doubles, the top slot is most often held by the two most experienced players on the team in Hammers and Yue.
Holt and Haertel have combined for an impressive 5-3 doubles record so far this year, including 4-2 at No. 2 doubles.
The combination of Granger and Brandon Meeker is typically slotted at third doubles.
A LOOK AT THE JACKRABBITS: South Dakota State is tied with Western Illinois for second in the conference with a 2-1 league mark...The Jackrabbits are on a three-match winning streak, defeating Chicago State, North Dakota and Omaha...Parker Lawley leads the team with an 11-6 overall mark, including 2-0 in conference action.
LAST TIME OUT: Trailing 3-1 to IUPUI, the Leathernecks came from behind to win 4-3...Patrick Hammers and Bradley Holt won singles matches to bring Western within one...Mitch Granger battled back after dropping the first set to win 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, and Max Cederkall needed a tiebreaker to win his contest, 6-4, 7-6 (9-7) to clinch the match.
WEEK'S BEST: Freshman Bradley Holt got off to a hot start to open his collegiate career...He was named the Summit League Men's Tennis Player of the Week after the opening weekend...Holt currently holds an 8-11 singles record to go along with a 9-7 doubles mark.
CLEAN SWEEP: The Leathernecks won a pair of matches on Feb. 12 over Illinois College and Lindenwood-Belleville, not losing a set on the day...Western beat IC 7-0 before topping Lindenwood-Belleville 9-0...Four Leathernecks picked up four wins on the day.
PRESEASON POLL: The Leathernecks were tabbed to finish fourth out of six teams in the Summit League preseason poll...Kansas City is the favorite to win the league, receiving four first-place votes...Western Illinois was projected ahead of South Dakota State and Omaha.
ON DECK: The Leathernecks will close the regular season on Sunday against Fort Wayne at 10 a.m. The contest is currently scheduled to be played in Macomb, but could be moved to Galesburg in the event of poor weather. Western Illinois will also be recognizing its lone senior, two-time All-Summit League honoree Patrick Hammers.
