April 18, 2001

EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State men's tennis team ends the Big Ten regular season this weekend with home matches against Purdue on Saturday, April 21 and Indiana on Sunday, April 22. Both matches are scheduled to be played at the MSU Outdoor Tennis Facility on the corner of Chestnut and Wilson Roads at noon. In the event of inclement weather, the matches will be moved to the MSU Indoor Tennis Facility. The postseason begins April 26 in Madison as the University of Wisconsin hosts the Big Ten Championships.

"We are looking to give our best showing yet," said MSU Head Coach Gene Orlando. "This weekend is our final home stand of the season and we are looking forward to having good crowds with a lot of family."

Last week, Spartan freshman Eric Simonton (Annandale, N.J.) showed what determination and perseverance means. After three shirts, three sets, and nearly three hours, Simonton defeated Michigan's Henry Beam at No. 1 singles. Simonton lost in the first set in a tiebreaker, 6-7(1). With all the other matches completed, Simonton defeated Beam in the second set, 7-5. In the third set, the players alternated serves until Beam broke Simonton to take the lead at 5-4. Simonton then went on to break Beam, hold serve and break Beam again to win the third set and the match, 7-5.

Other winners on the week were sophomore Adam Hourani (Lansing, Mich.) and freshman Mike Hodge (Grand Rapids, Mich.). Hourani defeated Iowa's Petar Mandic, 6-0, 6-4, 7-6, at No. 3 singles, while Hodge defeated Iowa's Tom Buetikofer, 6-2, 4-6, 6-1 at No. 6 singles.