Feb. 3, 2011

No. 60 Northwestern (3-0, 0-0 Big Ten) vs. Middle Tennessee State (3-0, 0-0 Sun Belt)
Friday, Feb. 4
Combe Tennis Center
Evanston, Ill. • 6 p.m. CT
Live Stats: NUsports.com

No. 60 Northwestern (3-0, 0-0 Big Ten) vs. No. 73 Princeton (1-0, 0-0 Ivy League)
Saturday, Feb. 5
Combe Tennis Center
Evanston, Ill. • 5 p.m. CT
Live Stats: NUsports.com

EVANSTON, Ill. -- No. 60 Northwestern, fresh off a 6-1 road victory over No. 64 Harvard, returns home to take on Middle Tennessee State and a second Ivy League rival, Princeton, this weekend in Evanston. Action is set to kick off at 6 p.m. Friday when the 'Cats take on the Blue Raiders, while the Saturday evening showdown with Princeton will begin at 5 p.m. CT.

Both matches will take place at the Combe Tennis Center and offer free admission for all fans. Those who can't make it out to the lakeside facility can follow live stats of both matches clicking here.

NU's match against Princeton Saturday will also be the site of ITA Campus Kids Day in Evanston, which will feature free pizza and chances to win great prizes for all fans in attendance. Campus Kids Days are intended to expose as many junior level players, their parents and coaches to the NCAA tennis atmosphere. For more about the ITA's Campus Kids Day program, click here.

The Wildcats earned tight come-from-behind victories against both of this weekend's opponents a year ago, beginning when they overcame a 3-1 deficit to pull out a 4-3 victory over the 57th-ranked Blue Raiders on Feb. 13. Two weeks later, Northwestern dropped the doubles point but stormed back in singles to win 5-2 over the 75th-ranked Tigers.

Northwestern has been led by its upperclassmen so far in the young dual season, with juniors Joshua Graves and Tobias Reitz and senior Andrew McCarthy posting a combined singles record of 8-0. Sophomore Spencer Wolf, who clinched last year's Middle Tennessee State match with a dramatic 7-5 third-set win, picked up his first win at No. 2 singles against Harvard in NU's most recent outing.

Scouting the Blue Raiders
Like NU, Middle Tennessee State has also started the dual season 3-0 despite featuring five freshmen in an especially young lineup. Just one senior and one junior remain on the roster from the team Northwestern defeated last year. The three dual season victories have come in convincing fashion, as opponents have managed only one team point against the Blue Raiders so far.

Scouting the Tigers
Princeton only lost one starter, Charlie Brosens at No. 1 singles, from the lineup they used to take on the Wildcats last year. The Tigers started their dual season on a winning note, taking down No. 71 Penn State 4-3. Sophomore Matt Spindler, who lost a tough 6-4, 6-7, 1-0 (10-6) decision in his matchup with Spencer Wolf last year, clinched the victory with a three-set win at No. 2 singles.

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