Sept. 30, 2009

2009 Wildcat Invitational Tournament Central

EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern welcomes players from nine top programs to the 2009 Wildcat Fall Invitational, which will be played at Vandy Christie Tennis Center this weekend, Oct. 2-4. The 'Cats will be led by junior Andrew McCarthy (Cincinnati, Ohio/Indian Hill) and sophomore Eric Spector (Northbrook, Ill./Glenbrook North) in Flight A singles as they look to continue a strong fall campaign.

The tournament format includes four flights of singles and two flights of doubles in double elimination brackets. Participating institutions include Toledo, Marquette, Ball State, Purdue, Wisconsin, Iowa, DePaul, Drake, and Western Michigan.

Three Wildcat freshmen will join McCarthy and Spector in the weekend tournament. Sidarth Balaji (Fairfax, Va./Fairfax) and Chris Jackman (Key Biscayne, Fla./Gulliver Prep) will play in Flight B and Flight C singles, respectively.

Freshman Mark Schanerman (North Miami Beach, Fla./Dr. Michael M. Krop High School) will see his first action of the year after missing the Milwaukee Tennis Classic due to injury. Schanerman will play in Flight B singles, kicking off his NU career against Iowa senior Patrick Dwyer Friday afternoon.

The 'Cats will also have two doubles teams in Flight A doubles action during the tournament. Spector and McCarthy pair up to face DePaul's Matija Palinic and Douglas Perrin in the opening round Friday at 4:30 p.m.

Freshmen Sidarth Balaji and Chris Jackman team to face Marquette's Mark Rutherford and Jose Carlos Gutierrez Crowley, also at 4:30 p.m. Friday.

For complete tournament coverage including singles and doubles draws, visit the 2009 Wildcat Invitational Tournament Central.