Unprecedented: Looking Back at MSU Men’s Tennis’ Historic Season

At the culmination of the winningest season in team history, MSU’s 23rd win of the year was the first NCAA Tournament win in program history. That wasn’t the last win of the season for one Spartan, however.

Jadun’s first recruit and Michigan State’s first Big Ten Men’s Tennis Player of the Year, Ozan Baris, also became the first to battle to the NCAA Singles Championships semifinal. In June, the sophomore from Okemos, Mich. – campus’ eastern neighbor where the waters of the Red Cedar River flow through first – became the program’s first to win the MSU Athletics George Alderton Male Athlete of the Year award. 

While those may be highlights of the unprecedented season, it doesn’t tell the whole story. There were numerous other program firsts leading up to the postseason that put Jadun, Baris and the Spartans in that position.

While dual matches are played in the spring, the season began for the Spartans in September with singles and doubles tournaments. They found instant success, peaking with the first National Title in program history.