North Carolina State University Athletics
NC State
Michigan
No. 23 Wolfpack Heads to No. 17 Michigan, Northwestern to Open 2020 Road Action
1/14/2020 12:07:00 PM | Men's Tennis
RALEIGH, N.C. - The No. 23 NC State men's tennis team takes its first road trip of the season this week, facing off against 17th-ranked Michigan Wednesday, Jan. 15 at 4:30 p.m. and Northwestern Friday, Jan. 17 at 7 p.m.
The Wolfpack is coming off a pair of season-opening home victories, having defeated Elon and USC Upstate on Jan. 11. NC State did not drop a set in either match, winning both by a score of 7-0. Rafa Izquierdo Luque and Martins Rocens made their debuts for the Wolfpack in the win over Elon, while Robin Catry made his first showing against USC Upstate.
SCOUTING THE WOLVERINES
NC State's matchup with Michigan will mark the first competition of the season for the Wolverines. Michigan wrapped up its 2019 dual match season ranked No. 20 in the Oracle/ITA Rankings and returns eight members of last season's team.
Over the course of the season, the Wolfpack will compete in dual matches against 17 teams that finished the 2019 dual season featured in the final ITA/Oracle rankings. Six of NC State's 2020 opponents finished in the top 25 last season. Michigan marks the first of these matchups against teams ranked in the top 25 of the final Oracle/ITA Rankings.
SCOUTING THE WILDCATS
Northwestern's first dual match of 2020 comes against Illinois State on Wednesday before facing the Pack on Friday. The Wildcats checked in at No. 57 in the final Oracle/ITA Rankings of the 2019 season.
UP NEXT
NC State heads to Charlottesville, Va., to participate in the 2020 ITA Kickoff Weekend Jan. 25-26. The Wolfpack will take on Utah State at 10 a.m. Jan. 25 and will compete against either Memphis or Virginia Jan. 26.
#GoPack | @PackMensTennis
